Temperatures have remained above freezing at 9000 feet since Tuesday afternoon. These sustained warm temperatures and recent rain have provided for the possibility for human triggered wet slab and wet loose avalanches to occur in cliff areas and on very steep slopes at the high and mid elevations. At low elevations, very shallow wet loose sloughs are possible on steep slopes that are snow covered.
Wet slabs 6 to 18 inches in depth are possible on very steep slopes on a variety of aspects at the mid and upper elevations. As temperatures fall today and new snow arrives this hazard will decrease.
As a weak ridge of high pressure builds over the region, expect decreasing cloud cover overnight followed by partly cloudy to mostly sunny skies during the day on Saturday. Temperatures will continue to cool overnight with lows in the mountains near 20. By Saturday morning, the valleys could dip into the mid-20s. Temperatures will rebound on Saturday with the higher elevations warming to near freezing as the valleys climb into the mid-40s. Westerly ridgetop winds will range from 20 to 30 miles per hour.With a substantial freeze forecasted overnight, the general avalanche hazard is expected to be LOW Saturday morning. As the day warms, the chance for shallow wet slides in very steep terrain could reemerge when surface crusts breakdown increasing the hazard to MODERATE. Take note of how quickly temperatures rise and how the sun affects the top of the snowpack. When surface crusts start to become unsupportable, transition to cooler terrain.
