Sunshine and warming temperatures will increase the hazard as the day progresses. At the higher elevations, pockets of wet slab up to two feet in depth will become increasingly sensitive to human triggers as the day warms. Shallow, wet loose slides are possible on steep sunlit slopes during the heat of the day. In isolated areas, the warming temperatures will also increase the potential for snowmobilers to trigger dangerous hard slab avalanches.
In isolated areas where weak, faceted snow persists near the base of the snowpack, deep hard slabs could be triggered by large loads. These dangerous slabs could have depths to five feet and will become more sensitive to human triggers during the warmest portion of the day. Very large cornice failures are possible today, which could also initiate one of these deep slab avalanches.
Once snow surfaces soften, backcountry travelers could trigger wet slab avalanches up to two feet in depth on steep, snow covered slopes.
Sunshine and warm temperatures may cause wet loose slides to occur on a variety of aspects in very steep terrain. At the upper elevations, these loose snow slides could trigger wet slab avalanches.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )After passage of a cold front Wednesday evening, skies will be mostly clear to partly cloudy on Thursday. Mountain temperatures will rise to near 40 as the valleys climb into the 50s. Westerly ridgetop winds will range from 15 to 25 miles per hour.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be mostly LOW in the early morning hours before increasing to MODERATE after snow surfaces soften. Wet slabs up to two feet in depth, along with shallow wet loose slides, will be possible in steep terrain. Cornice failures remain a concern and have some potential to trigger large, deep wet slabs in isolated areas.
