New snow and strong west winds have formed new soft surface slabs at the mid and high elevations. These slabs could be triggered in steep wind loaded avalanche terrain with depths to eighteen inches and will be most sensitive at the high elevations where the most significant wind loading occurred. At low elevations, isolated pockets of wet surface slides could be triggered.
New soft wind slabs have formed from the eight inches of new snow that fell with strong west winds. These slabs lie upon hard melt-freeze crusts and in some areas wind packed snow and could be triggered by backcountry riders and skiers today in steep avalanche terrain.
Unstable air will bring an embedded system through the area tonight through Friday. This will result in snow showers that will be light in some areas and could bring localized heavy amounts where the snow showers are the strongest. Temperatures are to cool to the single digits by morning with highs in the low teens expected. West winds are to decrease to ten to twenty mile per hour averages on Friday.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be Considerable above 9000 feet and Moderate below. New snow will add to existing surface slabs and be sensitive to backcountry travelers. At higher elevations, slabs will be most sensitive and could release with depths to eighteen inches.
