The 5 AM air temperatures at the upper elevations are only a couple degrees below freezing. These temperatures are about five degrees warmer than they were yesterday morning and about 15 degrees warmer than they were two mornings ago. Snow surfaces will soften early. Wet loose avalanches, wet slab avalanches and cornice failures are possible after significant warming occurs. Chunks of ice, snow and rock are likely to fall from cliff areas. Avoid steep slopes and run-out zones beneath these slopes and cliff areas after snow surfaces have softened.
Dangerous wet slabs up to several feet deep will become increasingly sensitive to human triggers and natural releases as the day warms.
Wet loose slides are possible on a variety of steep slopes after significant warming occurs. These slides could trigger deeper wet slab avalanches.
Cornice failures are possible. Large cornice drops could trigger dangerous wet slabs.
The high pressure ridge over the western states will shift slowly east with a southwest flow developing through the day. Expect increasing clouds with a chance of some light snow showers in the mountains and light rain showers in the valley by evening. Temperatures will drop into the upper 20s overnight and rise into the 30s and 40s during the day. Winds will be west to southwest at 10 to 30 miles per hour.If skies clear overnight and temperatures drop below freezing the general avalanche hazard is anticipated to be LOW in the early morning hours and rise to MODERATE as temperatures increase. Wet slides are possible on steep slopes snow surfaces have soften.
