In steep avalanche starting zones at the high elevations, the possibility continues for backcountry travelers to trigger persistent slab avalanches. Below 9,000 feet, avalanches are unlikely today except for in isolated pockets in the steepest terrain.
Persistent slabs lie in steep avalanche starting zones and rocky areas. These slabs could be soft or hard and have depths up to two foot. Caution is advised as it is difficult to predict which areas remain unstable as most terrain can be traveled without incident before a weak area is found.
A storm system that is dropping from the northwest is to bring snow to the area overnight through Saturday afternoon. The mountains could receive approximately six inches overnight with an additional four to six expected during the day. Strong southwest winds with averages of 25-30 miles per hour are to accompany this snowfall before they become westerly and diminish in the afternoon. Temperatures are to remain cold with mountain highs in the mid to upper teens expected.The general avalanche hazard is to increase to Considerable during the day tomorrow as significant snowfall and associated strong winds raise the avalanche hazard. Riders and skiers will have the potential to trigger new soft wind slabs as well as have the potential to trigger deeper persistent slabs that lie upon old weak snow surfaces. Total depths could reach to over three feet, particularly in the Southwest Trails/Greys River area where the persistent slab problem is the most widespread.
