Sunshine will thaw snow crusts and increase the avalanche hazard from wet-loose and wet slab avalanches. Avalanche terrain should be avoided after snow surfaces soften.
Wet loose slides are possible once crusts soften and could pull out deeper layers or run to the ground on steep slopes where the snow is wet, loose and unconsolidated.
Dangerous wet slab avalanches are possible in steep avalanche paths as the day warms. These slabs could be triggered by snow machines and are likely to fail on buried layers of weak faceted snow or take out all the snow to the ground. Wet snow surfaces and foot or ski penetration into loose snow is a warning to avoid avalanche terrain.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )High pressure will keep skies clear into Wednesday morning then a disturbance will bring increasing clouds and a chance of spotty snow with little accumulation in the afternoon. An isolated thunderstorm is also possible in the afternoon. Morning lows will be in the 20s then warming will push temperatures to near 40 degrees. Winds will be westerly at 10 miles per hour The general avalanche hazard will drop to LOW as surfaces freeze into hard crusts overnight. Cooler temperatures and increasing clouds will slow the break down of crusts but as they lose strength the hazard will increase to MODERATE with the possibility of human triggered wet-loose slides developing.
