Mountain temperatures cooled into the low 20s overnight, and skies were mostly clear fostering radiational cooling. This scenario has allowed the saturated snow surfaces to freeze at the mid and upper elevations which has temporarily removed the threat of wet slides. In very steep terrain, the chance for wet slabs and wet loose avalanches could reemerge when surface crusts breakdown as the day warms. Take note of how quickly temperatures rise and how the sun affects the top of the snowpack. When surface crusts start to become unsupportable, transition to cooler terrain. Most areas at the lower elevations have insufficient snow depths to produce significant avalanche activity.
Above 7,500 feet, warming temperatures and periods of sunshine will soften frozen snow surfaces starting in the mid elevations then climbing into higher elevation terrain. Once surface crusts break down, skiers and riders could trigger wet slabs 6 to 18 inches deep in very steep terrain on a variety of aspects.
The weak ridge of high pressure will remain over the region into Sunday resulting in dry conditions. Skies will be a mix of sunshine interspersed with cloud cover before skies become overcast Sunday evening ahead of the leading edge of a Pacific weather system. Overnight lows in the mountains will be in the mid-20s before climbing to near 40 during the day. Westerly ridgetop winds will back to the southwest at 20 to 30 miles per hour.With another night of below freezing temperatures at the higher elevations, the general avalanche hazard is expected to be LOW Sunday morning. Aside from some very shallow point slides, the snowpack will likely remain mostly stable throughout the day unless enough heat and sunshine occur to breakdown the near surface crusts. If this happens, the chance for more significant wet slides might reemerge. Most areas below 7,500 feet have insufficient snow depths to produce significant avalanche activity.
