Isolated pockets of shallow wind slab could be human triggered in very steep terrain at the highest elevations. Warm temperatures and sunshine could create shallow loose snow sluffs and will increase the potential for wet slides to occur on very steep slopes. At all elevations the hazard will be LOW during the morning hours while snow surfaces remain hard and frozen and will increase to MODERATE after significant softening of the snow surface has occurred.
At the highest elevations small, isolated pockets of wind slab were formed by southwest winds. These wind slabs could be up to a foot in depth and may pose a hazard to extreme skiers and climbers in very steep terrain and cliff areas.
Air temperatures are forecast to drop into the upper 20s overnight and rise into the 40s and 50s on Sunday. Skies will be mostly clear. Winds will be southwesterly at 5 to 10 miles per hour.Snow surfaces are expected to freeze overnight under clear skies. Snow surfaces are likely to soften earlier than they did today and conditions in the mountains are expected to be warmer in the afternoon then they were today. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be LOW in the early morning hours and to increase to MODERATE as the day warms. Warmer temperatures and abundant sunshine will create the potential for wet loose and wet slab avalanches to be human triggered in very steep terrain after significant softening of the snow surface has occurred. Monitor conditions and avoid being in or beneath very steep terrain during the heat of the day.
