West Slopes Central

Avalanche danger is generally low. Temperatures are plummeting Thursday and even more on Friday, and crusts will exist at lower elevations and on any steep slopes facing the sun- expect challenging and variable snow conditions. It's very unlikely, but if you make it onto shady mid and upper elevation slopes there's the tiniest chance you could trigger an avalanche in recent snow layers. 

After a hot day, dropping temperatures will leave our wet loose avalanche concerns behind us. In most areas, snow surfaces will lock up and we don't expect to see any avalanche activity. Most hazards will revolve around challenging snow surface conditions. 

Avalanche concerns remain limited to shady aspects at mid and upper elevations in the new snow layers, but we believe it's very unlikely you'll encounter avalanches in these areas. The main concern would be wind slabs that developed over what may be a weak interface over the crust that was buried on 1/10. Just because it's low danger doesn't mean it's no danger. If you find drifted snow most likely built up in gullies or around rock features, dig to the most recent interface, 6" to a foot or so down, investigate the bond and if snow easily slides on that layer, consider avoiding steep slopes nearby. 

In other areas, steep south-facing aspects will have the most distinct crust, as those areas baked in the sun the most. Off-aspects, like east and west will have thinner, possibly breakable crusts. Even north-facing slopes may have a subtle crust to upper elevations, as they were reported getting just barely moist on Wednesday.  Areas with thinner crusts, and shadier aspects, are target zones right now for our upcoming cold weather and facet (weak snow) development. This isn't much of a problem for right now, but when we eventually get precipitation, if it's snow, on top of this layer it could prove to be some spicy conditions. 

Lower elevations will have a hard and bumpy crusts, where old crusty tree bomb holes will leave even more hazardous locations for you to navigate around. These tree bomb holes, after such a warm day on Wednesday (temperatures reached to the mid 40's at 5000ft!) will also exist at mid elevations. Old piles of predominantly wet avalanches will set up like concrete, and it's best to completely avoid any of those frozen chickenhead debris piles.

If you make it into the backcountry, please share with us what you saw by submitting an observation HERE or on the App.