Warming temperatures will soften crusts and increase the avalanche hazard. Wet slides will be possible on steep slopes after significant warming has occurred. Avalanche terrain should be avoided during the warmest portion of the day.
Wet loose slides are possible on very steep slopes after crusts soften and could pull out deeper layers. Once started, slides may step down to the ground on very steep slopes where the snow is wet, loose and unconsolidated.
Dangerous slab avalanches will be possible in steep avalanche paths during the heat of the day. These slabs could fail on buried layers of faceted snow and could be triggered by snowmachines or skiers. Once crusts have softened avalanche terrain should be avoided. Skis or boots penetrating easily into deeper snow are indications of dangerous conditions.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Mountain temperatures will again drop into the 20s by Monday morning, re-freezing crusts. Clouds will increase across the region Monday as a Canadian cold front moves south and a Pacific low pressure system moves north from the Great Basin. Very spotty light snow is expected over the higher mountains with little accumulation. Temperatures will warm into the upper 30s to low 40s and ridge top winds will be light.The general avalanche hazard will drop to LOW again with morning crusts then, as the crusts lose strength the possibility of wet-loose slides will increase raising the hazard to MODERATE.
