Sunshine will soften snow crusts and increase the avalanche hazard. Wet loose and wet slab avalanches are possible after significant warming occurs. Overcast skies may slow warming but softened snow surfaces are the best indication of weakening stability. Avalanche terrain should be avoided after snow surfaces soften.
Wet loose slides are possible once crusts soften and could pull out deeper layers or run to the ground on steep slopes where the snow is wet, loose and unconsolidated.
Dangerous wet slab avalanches are possible in steep avalanche paths during the heat of the day. These slabs could be triggered by snow machines and are likely to fail on buried layers of weak faceted snow or take out all the snow to the ground. Avalanche terrain should be avoided once surfaces soften.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Mountain temperatures will again drop into the 20s by Monday morning, re-freezing crusts. Clouds will increase across the region Monday as a Canadian cold front moves south and a Pacific low pressure system moves north from the Great Basin. Very spotty light snow is expected over the higher mountains with little accumulation. Temperatures will warm into the upper 30s to low 40s and ridge top winds will be light.The general avalanche hazard will drop to LOW again with morning crusts then, as the crusts lose strength the possibility of wet-loose slides will increase raising the hazard to MODERATE.
