This morning's air temperatures are inverted and therefor warmer at the higher elevations. Abundant sunshine, warmer temperatures and a dry air mass will cause snow surfaces to soften during the morning hours. Although the general avalanche hazard will be low at all elevations in the early morning hours the hazard may quickly increase to moderate at all elevations during the later morning hours. Wet slides are possible on steep slopes after significant softening of those surfaces has occurred. Monitor conditions and have a plan to exit avalanche terrain via a safe route before the wet snow avalanche hazard becomes dangerous. Cornice failures are possible and may trigger wet loose or wet slab avalanches if they fall onto steep slopes.
The wet snow avalanche hazard will increase on steep snow covered slopes as the day warms. At the lower elevations these wet slides could dig down into older snow layers. At the mid elevations loose wet slides are likely to involve the most recent new snow. At the upper elevations wet loose and wet slab avalanches are possible on very steep slopes. Those wet slab avalanches could be several feet deep.
Temperatures are expected to drop into the mid to upper twenties overnight. A thin cloud cover will develop ahead of a cold front, which is expected to arrive Friday evening. Tomorrow’s skies will be partly cloudy with a slight chance of light snowfall. Mountain temperatures are expected to climb into the 40s. Westerly ridgetop winds will be light with gusts in the 20s. A light freeze overnight will decrease the wet snow avalanche hazard. As the day warms, crusts on snow surfaces will quickly break down. The avalanche hazard is expected to be moderate and increase throughout the day. Wet, loose avalanches will become possible and depending on the cloud cover could be more likely on sunlit aspects. At the lower elevations, wet slides could step down to the ground. The warm temperatures will also cause cornices to be susceptible to failure, which could trigger large avalanches. After the past few days of warm temperatures, slopes prone to glide cracks could avalanche and there could be wet slab avalanches a few feet in depth. Monitor conditions for increase wet snow hazards, and avoid being on or under steep slopes as the snow becomes wet.
