Air temperatures dropped to around freezing overnight after a very warm day. Snow surfaces will soften early and create dangerous conditions. Wet slides will continue to be a problem on steep slopes. Loose wet slides, wet slab avalanches and cornice drops are possible. Avoid steep slopes and run-out zones beneath these slopes after snow surfaces have softened.
Wet loose slides are possible on steep snow covered slopes. These slides could dig down into deeper layers and trigger wet slab avalanches.
Dangerous wet slabs up to three feet in depth lie upon a weak basal layer of depth hoar and will become increasingly sensitive to human triggers and could release naturally after snow surfaces soften.
Cornice failures are possible. Large cornice drops could trigger dangerous wet slabs.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )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.
