Northwest Inland

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Low - Due to the number of field observations

The current ridge of high pressure will deliver clear skies for Wednesday and Thursday while increased cloud is expected on Friday. An inversion will develop over the forecast period with above-freezing alpine temperatures expected by late Thursday and Friday. Ridgetop winds should be light and northeasterly on Wednesday increasing to strong and southwesterly on Thursday and Friday

No recent avalanches have been reported. With solar radiation and slight warming forecast for the next few days, loose wet avalanches will become more likely on steep, sun-exposed slopes.

Light amounts (10-15cm) of snow fell last weekend. Variable winds have likely shifted the new snow into wind slabs in upper elevation lee terrain. Although these wind slabs have likely gained strength, I'd remain cautious on steep, unsupported slopes in the immediate lee of ridge crests. We're still dealing with a thin, early-season snowpack for much of the Northwest Inland region. Between 80 and 100 cm of snow can be found at tree-line in the south and west of the region, with closer to 60 cm in the east. A weak basal layer probably exists in most areas, and I suspect that the ongoing cold temperatures have continued to promote faceting in the snowpack, especially in shallow, rocky areas.