Northeast winds picked up after 9 pm and have increased the avalanche hazard. Up to 20 inches of new snow with 1.5 inches of moisture has fallen since yesterday morning. This new snow lies upon crusts and hard old snow surfaces that formed during last week's warm spell. Humans who venture into steep avalanche prone slopes could trigger dangerous loose snow and wind slab avalanches. It is unusual for northeast winds to have this much new snow to cross load gullies and load avalanche starting zones in atypical patterns. In areas where wind loading has occurred expect avalanche hazards to exist in unusual places. Evaluate terrain carefully and avoid unnecessary risks during the COVID-19 crisis. Extra caution is warranted, especially if you are traveling solo.
At the mid and upper elevations humans could trigger wind slab avalanches formed by northeast winds. These slabs could be up to two feet deep. Small pockets of wind slab may also be human triggered in isolated terrain features at the lower elevations.
Overnight skies are expected to clear and temperatures will drop into the single digits to teens. Tomorrow skies will be mostly clear. Mountain temperatures will rise into the 30s and valleys in the 40s. Westerly to southerly winds are forecasted to be light. Light winds and cold temperatures overnight will contribute to the avalanche hazard decreasing. In the morning the general avalanche hazard is expected to be moderate above 9,000 feet and low below that elevation. At the upper elevations, it is possible for backcountry travelers to trigger winds slabs 12 to 18 inches deep on south to west-facing slopes. As the day warms, these slabs will become more sensitive to triggers. At the mid-elevations, the avalanche hazard is expected to increase in the afternoon, especially on sunlit slopes. Underlying the cold snow are hard crust, which makes for good sliding surfaces. As the new snow becomes wet for the first time, it will quickly change from stable to unstable and cause loose snow avalanches. At the lowest elevations avalanche activity is not expected.
