7:30 AM UPDATE: Elevated to moderate danger based on higher snowfall totals overnight. Small wind slabs are possible as you ascend in elevation.
There isn't much avalanche potential in the mountains right now, but that doesn't mean avalanches can't happen. Until a firm crust forms in the upper snowpack, snow could shed off steep slopes, rocks, and corniced ridges. A few inches of new snow shouldn't be enough to create consequential slides.
As you ascend in elevation on Wednesday, small slabs could exist in wind-exposed areas where more than a few inches of recent snow has fallen. The winds have been undoubtedly strong enough to transport new snow into shallow slabs, but is there enough dry snow on the surface to form consequential slabs? If they're out there, look for them near ridgelines or confined gullies/chutes.
Avalanche activity has been on a slow downtrend for several days as we distance ourselves from an atmospheric river and warm spring-like temperatures. We expect that trend to continue on Wednesday, allowing for generally safe avalanche conditions. That doesn't mean avalanches can't happen, however. On Tuesday morning, The Summit at Snoqualmie Pro Patrol reported that a glide slope failed within the Alpental ski area overnight. This curveball from Mother Nature proves that isolated avalanche events can occur even as temperatures cool and precipitation stops.
So if a rogue avalanche were to strike on Wednesday, where would it be? Based on recent history, snow shedding from rocky ledges at lower and mid elevations, where the snowpack is warmer, wetter, and weaker, would be a good bet. Otherwise, you'll be dealing with new snow problems. Throughout much of the zone you'll likely find a crust either on the surface or below Tuesday's snowfall, which should help cap the size of any potential slide. If there are sun breaks, any new snow sitting above a crust could fail as a loose avalanche. In high alpine or extreme terrain, you may find a shallow wind slabs. In either situation, we don't anticipate the size to be very large, but don't get caught off guard near a terrain trap or consequential terrain.
