Early morning avalanche danger is Low at all elevations, then once the temperatures warm up it quickly spikes up - however, low danger can still be found throughout the day on high elevation north facing terrain where the snow remains excellent.
Weather Forecast
This clear and beautiful weather will continue until late Wednesday, when a Pacific system moves into the area. Tuesday will start with a cold morning (overnight low of -14) but will quickly warm up to reach +5 to +10 again in the afternoon with no wind. Another perfect day ahead!
Snowpack Summary
North aspect snow is soft, cold and well settled with few weak layers of concern. South and west aspect snow has a suncrust on the surface that becomes moist by 11am. Currently we are moving from Low danger in the morning to High danger in the afternoon on solar aspects - so get an early start.
Avalanche Summary
Widespread wet loose avalanches up to size 2 running by 10 am today on sun exposed slopes. In particular, steep faces with rocks and cornices were alive with wet snow avalanches today and should be avoided.
Problems
Loose Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.
Cornices
Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.