At the upper elevations, soft slabs that lie upon crusts and surface hoar will increase in size and sensitivity today as they are they are further loaded by new snowfall. This increasing trend will also occur at mid elevations, where the soft slab problem that has been limited to specific terrain terrain features will become more widely distributed. At low elevations, avalanches are unlikely this morning although wet slide activity could become possible this afternoon as sustained rain weakens the snowpack.
Skiers and riders have the potential to trigger soft slabs above 8000 feet. By later this afternoon, these slabs could have depths to three feet at the high elevations and eighteen inches at the mid elevations.
Precipitation is to continue through the night as the system slowly tracks easterly. Four to six inches of snow is expected at the upper elevations by morning with the chance for periods of snowfall to continue through the day. The snow/rain level should drop to the valley floor overnight and then rise during the day as moisture diminishes. Daytime highs should reach the upper twenties to low thirties in the mountains and mid-forties in the valleys. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be moderate above 8000 feet all day and could be rated as Considerable if overnight snowfall amounts are higher than expected. Slabs formed by recent snowfall will be sensitive in steep terrain and could be triggered as soft or wet slabs with depths to two feet. Below that elevation, the danger is expected to rise from Low to Moderate as warm temperatures break down surface crusts and further weaken the snowpack.
