Overnight air temperatures at 9500 feet stayed above freezing. Wet loose avalanche activity and cornice failure is possible at the mid and high elevations today. The snow surface has hardened only at the high elevations and the upper portions of the mid elevations. This surface crust will be thin and quickly break down on east aspects followed by all other aspects. Backcountry travelers are advised to be out of even high elevation terrain by the mid to late morning. Evaluate terrain carefully and watch for very steep areas where wet slides are more likely.
Wet loose slides are possible in very steep terrain on a variety of aspects. These slides could begin as shallow surface snow and then entrain deeper and deeper layers of snow in steep and long slidepaths.
Large overhanging cornices could fail due to sustained warm temperatures and rain at the higher elevations. Cornice failures can be huge impacts to a slope and trigger avalanches in a mostly stable snowpack. Avoid cornices and the slopes beneath them.
An approaching cold front will bring an increasing chance of valley rain and mountain snow showers overnight and into the day. Skies are forecast to be cloudy and will keep temperatures in the 30s at the upper elevations. Daytime highs will rise into the mid-40s at the mid elevations and into the 50s in the valleys. Above freezing temperatures will enable the wet snow avalanche hazard to continue. Wet slides are possible were isothermal conditions (wet, loose snow) exists on steep slopes. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE. Avoid steep terrain in areas where the snowpack is soft and wet.
