Two avalanche problems will confront skiers and riders today. At the mid and upper elevations, backcountry travelers could trigger small to large wind slabs in steep, wind-loaded avalanche terrain. These slides are most likely to be encountered near upper elevation ridgelines where strong winds have transported recent snowfall onto leeward slopes. Human triggering of very large persistent deep slabs might still be possible in terrain above 9,000 feet that held snow from early October. Evaluate the snowpack and terrain carefully. The snowpack is mostly stable at the lower elevations, and avalanches are unlikely.
South-southwesterly to northwesterly ridgetop winds have combined with recent snowfall to form wind slabs in leeward terrain above 7,500 feet. Skiers and riders could trigger these slides to depths of one to three feet on steep, wind-loaded slopes.
Backcountry travelers might still be able to impact weak, faceted snow near the base of the snowpack on westerly through northerly to easterly aspects above 9,000 feet. Large triggers, such as snowmobiles, are more likely to cause failure of this basal weak layer, and previous tracks are not an indication of stability. These dangerous and destructive slides could exceed six feet in depth and are likely unsurvivable.
Periods of snow will continue overnight and into the day with several inches of additional inches of new snow accumulation likely. Temperatures will remain in the single digits at all elevations. Winds are forecast to be west-southwesterly at 10 to 15 miles per hour.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE above an elevation of 8,000 feet and LOW below that elevation. At the upper elevations pockets of wind slab with depths to two feet could be human triggered in steep, wind loaded avalanche starting zones. Deep persistent slabs with depths to six feet continue to be a potential hazard on northerly aspects above an elevation of 9,000 feet. These very dangerous slabs are more likely to be triggered in areas in steep avalanche prone terrain where the snowpack is shallower and by larger triggers such as snow machines.
