East Slopes North

While avalanches are unlikely, other mountain hazards exist. Expect challenging and icy travel conditions, use caution to avoid falls on slick crusts, and don't linger underneath large cornices. 

Wednesday will be a mellow day for the East North, with gradually warming temperatures and partially sunny skies in the morning. Expect variable snow surface conditions that may change with aspect and time of day. Dust on crust, supportable slick crust, breakable crust, it's all out there. You may also find yourself facing the potential for long slides on firm, icy slopes. Rain to high elevations on the 12th and 13th spurred a cycle of large (D2.5) wet avalanches in many areas, so you may also need to navigate large debris piles in the runouts of large avalanche paths. 

Clouds will begin to roll in Wednesday afternoon, bringing warming temperatures, rain, and high elevation snow on Wednesday night into Thursday. With moderate freezing temperatures and light precipitation, this storm probably won't significantly improve the current conditions. However, it may just be enough to freshen the surfaces at higher elevations and potentially build some small wind slabs on lee aspects. This small amount of new snow may cover up surface hoar, observed over the crust in sheltered and shaded areas. At lower elevations, this precipitation will likely fall as rain. If you get out, be sure to let us know what you find, and share reports of surface conditions ahead of this next round of snow. Consider other hazards of the mountains in the winter, such as cornices. Observers noted a large crack in a cornice atop Blue Peak on Sunday. Don't linger beneath large alpine features if you suspect cornices above. In many areas, firm and icy slopes may create travel hazards that warrant crampons or ice axes, etc.