During the early morning, the potential exists to trigger wind slabs at the high elevations in steep avalanche terrain. Sunlight and above freezing temperatures will further weaken these surface slabs and also provide the possibility for wet slides at all elevations by this afternoon. Evaluate terrain and snow surface conditions and beware of travel under steep avalanche paths.
Buried layers of faceted snow persist in the snowpack. Triggering slides on these layers will become more likely as snow surfaces soften. Stiff surface slabs with depths to 18 inches could be human triggered on steep slopes. Older, dense slabs up to five feet in depth could also be triggered on deeper buried layers of faceted snow.
Wet slides are possible today on a variety of aspects at all elevations after temperatures warm and snow surfaces soften. These slides could release naturally or be human triggered. Wet loose slides are possible on steep sunlit slopes. Dangerous, wet slabs could fail to the ground with depths to five feet at the higher elevations.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Mild and dry conditions are expected at the upper elevations. Temperatures near 9000 feet are to start in the low twenties at daylight and rise into the mid to upper thirties. Valley temperatures are to start near zero degrees and also rise to above freezing. Winds along summits are to be from the west with ten to twenty mile per hour averages. The general avalanche hazard will be Moderate by the afternoon as warming temperatures increase the potential for human triggered slides as well as small natural wet slide activity. At higher elevations wind slabs could be triggered with depths to 18 inches. Steep slopes that undergo significant warming could see small wet loose slides, or wet slabs. These wet slabs could be the more recently formed wind slabs or older persistent slabs. Activity involving the older persistent slabs is only expected in the Togwotee Pass area where a weaker snowpack exists.
