We received reports of several skier-triggered avalanches today in the upper elevations in the Cottonwoods, with wide propagations. Some of these slides occurred in terrain in now-closed ski areas, which should be treated as the backcountry as ski resorts are no longer performing avalanche mitigation.

Details are sparse, but these slides are likely involving fresh wind drifts which formed from the east/southeast winds which increased during the morning hours on Saturday, and persisted through much of the afternoon. A layer of graupel which fell during the Thursday night storm is providing a weak layer.

These drifts may remain sensitive on Sunday.