SOUTHWEST TRAILS/GREY'S RIVER AREA FORECAST
Issued at 12/18/2020 06:25   Valid until: 12/18/2020 23:59

Mountain Weather Forecast for Today

Skies will be partly cloudy with increasing clouds later in the day
Temperature forecast for 8,000 - 9,000: Rising into the teens and 20s
Ridge Top Wind Forecast for 10,000´: West-northwest at 10 to 15 milesper hour
Snowfall Expected Next 24 Hours: Trace

AVALANCHE DANGER

Avalanche hazard rating: 2 - Moderate - All elevations 5500 - 10,500 ft

General Avalanche Advisory

Yesterday’s storm brought 5 to 10 inches of new snow to the Greys River area. Up to two feet of snow has fallen since December 11. Persistent weak layers exist at the interface beneath this new snow and old snow surfaces that formed during a long dry period. On avalanche prone slopes, the weight of a single person could trigger a slab avalanche on this interface. At the higher elevations these slabs could be large enough to seriously injure or fully burry a person. This persistent weak layer was especially active yesterday between an elevation of 7,300 and 7,800 feet. The slides that occurred in this elevation zone were smaller than what you might trigger up higher where new snow depths are greater. This type of hazard is best managed by terrain assessment skills and conservative terrain choices. Evaluate steep slopes carefully and anticipate the potential consequences of triggering a slab avalanche of any size above terrain traps or on slopes with low snow hazards that can cause serious trauma.

Today's Avalanche Problems

Persistent Slab

LIKELIHOOD: Possible
SIZE: Small - Large
TREND: Steady
DESCRIPTION:  At the higher elevations large slab avalanches formed by southwest to west winds could be human triggered on steep avalanche prone slopes. These slabs could be two to three feet deep. Slab avalanches triggered below an elevation of 7,500 feet are likely to be a foot deep.