Air temperatures are warmer this morning, however snow surfaces should be frozen in the early morning hours. The wet snow avalanche hazard will increase after snow surfaces soften. Increasing cloud cover and winds may delay or slow the warming, especially at the higher elevations. Delays in that cloud cover may allow allow the the wet snow avalanche hazard to significantly increase, especially at the mid and lower elevations. Monitor conditions for an increase in the wet snow avalanche hazard. Avoid being on and under steep slopes if the snowpack loses cohesion and if the snow on those slopes is or becomes isothermal.
If cloud cover is delayed and significant warming occurs the snowpack may lose strength. In that case wet loose slides are possible on steep terrain features. These slides could be triggered by humans and could be consequential above terrain traps and cliff areas.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )A Pacific cold front will approach the area. A few showers are possible in northern areas later in the afternoon. Rain and snow showers in the evening are expected to spread from the northwest to the southeast and change over to all snow as colder air moves into the region.Skies will remain mostly clear overnight and allow temperatures to drop into the 20s. On Thursday clouds will be on the increase as temperatures rise back into the 30’s and 40’s before the arrival of the cold front. Southwest winds will strengthen during the day, become strong ahead of and during the frontal passage and will back to the northwest and stay strong later in the evening. This storm system will be moving fast and is not likely to bring more that a trace to a couple of inches of new snow to the mountains. The snowpack has been subjected to multiple melt-freeze cycles and is mostly stable. Snow surfaces are expected to freeze overnight and soften during the day. Wet snow slides are possible on steep sunlit aspects during the warmest portion of the day. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be low.
