Rising temperatures will increase the hazard as the day warms. Temperatures at the upper elevations remained mostly above freezing overnight and rose well into the 40s yesterday. At the mid and upper elevations humans could trigger dense surface slabs up to two feet in depth in isolated areas. Shallow wet loose slides are also possible in steep sunlit cliff areas. Cornices may be weakened and could fail and trigger dense surface slabs on steep slopes. Avalanches are unlikely at the lower elevations.
Dense, surface slabs, up to two feet in depth will become increasingly sensitive to human triggers as the day warms. Some potential may develop for these slabs to step down to deeper layers of faceted snow.
Cloud cover will continue to increase this evening with a mix of rain and snow beginning tonight. By Wednesday morning, precipitation will transition to snow as mountain temperatures dip into the low 20s. Daytime highs in the mountains will be in the mid-20s. Southwesterly ridgetop winds will veer to the west at 10 to 20 miles.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE on Wednesday. New, shallow surface slabs will build on warm snow and develop right-side-up. Backcountry travelers might be able to trigger these slabs in steep, wind-loaded avalanche terrain at the higher elevations. A persistent weak layer of surface hoar still remains a concern in isolated areas above 7,500 feet. Skiers and riders could trigger slabs up to two feet deep on this weak layer, either directly or indirectly from new slabs stepping down.
