Temperatures at an elevation of 8,000 feet have been above freezing for over eight days. The freezing level during this period has been fluctuating between 8,000 feet at night and up to 10,500 feet during the day. The snowpack is isothermal at the lower elevations and in many areas at the mid elevations. Areas of wet, unconsolidated snow exist above an elevation of 9,000 feet. Wet loose avalanches are possible in steep terrain on a variety of aspects. Some potential may persist at the higher elevations for large wet slab avalanches to be human triggered on very steep avalanche prone slopes. Stay off of and out from under steep slopes in areas where snow surfaces are wet and unconsolidated.
Wet loose slides are possible at all elevations in very steep terrain and cliff areas. These wet slides could release naturally or be triggered by humans. After release these slides can fan out and gain volume as they gouge down and en-train more wet snow into the moving avalanche debris.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Skies are expected to be partly to mostly cloudy overnight. Temperatures are forecast to drop into the upper 20s to lower 30s at the higher elevations and will remain in the mid to upper 30s at the mid and lower elevations. During the day they will rise into the 40s and 50s. The cloud cover will increase later in the day and evening as snow and rain showers move into the southern portion of our forecast region. The potential for snow surfaces to freeze overnight will be dependent on cloud cover and overnight low temperatures. A freeze is likely at the upper elevations and possible at the mid and lower elevations. Wet snow avalanches will become a concern in steep terrain and cliff areas after snow surfaces become wet. The general avalanches hazard may be low in the early morning hours. It will increase to moderate after increasing temperatures thaw surface crusts.
