At the upper elevations areas of unstable snow persist in steep avalanche prone terrain. These unstable slabs are most likely to be released by larger triggers such as high making snowmachines or multiple people on the same slope. Below an elevation of 8,500 feet the snowpack is mostly stable and avalanches are unlikely.
At the upper elevation some potential exists for snowmobilers or skiers to trigger slab avalanches up to three feet deep in steep avalanche paths where a weak layer of faceted snow persist near the base of the snowpack.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Skies are forecast to be partly to mostly sunny on Thursday with a chance of isolated mountain snow flurries. Temperatures are expected to drop below zero overnight and rise into the upper teens during the day. Winds will back from the west-northwest to the west-southwest at 10 to 20 mile per hour.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE at the upper elevations and LOW below an elevation of 8,500 feet. Unstable surface slabs one to three feet in depth that could be triggered by a skier or snowmobiler exist in some very steep avalanche starting zones and cliff areas.
