Warm air is dominating our weather and is negatively impacting the snowpack. The freezing level at 5 AM this morning is near 10,500 feet. The warm conditions have created extensive areas of unstable, isothermal snow. At the lower elevations many steep southerly facing slopes are bare. A wet snow avalanche hazard exist on all steep snow covered slopes today. Wet, loose slides are possible in very steep terrain. Cornice drops are possible and dangerous, wet slab avalanches are possible in isolated areas. Avoid steep steep slopes with rotten isothermal snow.
Wet loose avalanches are possible on a variety of aspects in steep terrain at all elevations. These wet slides could be human triggered or release spontaneously and have potential to entrain snow to the ground in areas where the snowpack is isothermal.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )A moist but stable westerly flow will bring limited rain and snow showers and windy conditions to the region. Temperatures are expected to approach freezing overnight under overcast skies. On Sunday, temperatures will rise into the mid-40s at 10,500 feet and into the 50s in the valleys. Skies will be overcast with a chance of rain and snow showers in the mountains. Winds will be west-southwest at 20 to 30 with gusts to near 50 miles per hour.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE on steep snow covered slopes due to the wet snow avalanche hazard. Wet loose slides are possible on steep slopes especially in areas where the snow is isothermal. Wet slab avalanches may be a potential hazard in steep terrain at the higher elevations where weak layers of faceted snow persist deep in the snowpack. These conditions warrant a cautious approach to steep terrain, especially after snow surfaces soften.
