Warming temperatures and sunshine will combine to increase the hazard as the day progresses. Weak faceted snow persist within the snowpack and continues to be a concern on steep slopes. The potential for humans to trigger slab avalanches up to three feet deep on steep slopes will increase as the day warms.
In some areas persistent slabs up to three feet deep lie upon depth hoar and could be triggered by the weight of a single rider or skier. Conservative terrain choices are warranted, especially during the warmest portion of the day.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Limited moisture in a northwest flow will continue to bring low clouds and the chance of snow showers or flurries to the mountains. Skies will be partly cloudy on Saturday. Temperatures will rise into the 30s in the mountains and to near 40 in the valleys. Northwest winds will be light at 5 to 15 miles per hour and back from the northwest to the southwest.In all areas isolated pockets of wind slab up to 18 inches in depth and loose snow sluffs will continue to pose a hazard to humans who venture into steep avalanche prone terrain. In some areas weak layers of faceted snow within the snowpack remain a concern and present the potential for humans to trigger slab avalanches up to three feet deep. Sunshine and warm temperatures will increase the sensitivity of these slabs to human triggers. Loose snow sluffs are possible on steep sunlit aspects. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE and will be on the increase as the day progresses.
