Pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger linger today at all elevations on SE-S-SW aspects on slopes 37 degrees and steeper due to poor overnight refreeze of wet surface snow from yesterday. As rain up to 8,000'+ moves into the forecast area late today, additional areas of loose wet avalanche avalanche activity will become possible on all aspects.
A marginal to poor overnight refreeze is expected to have occurred last night due to above freezing air temperatures and building cloud cover limiting radiational cooling. Human triggered loose wet avalanches will be possible today on SE-S-SW aspects. As rain falls on snow late today and tonight, additional areas of loose wet snow instability will become possible.
Observations made yesterday on Rose Knob Peak (Mount Rose Backcountry) and in King's Realm (Bear Valley Backcountry) revealed a mix of old rain crust and melt freeze snow conditions on all aspects below 8,500'. On the higher elevation terrain of Rose Knob Peak, several day old new snow, well bonded to the rain crust below was noted to have not yet experienced a melt phase until yesterday on SE-S-SW aspects above 8,800'. As daytime warming progressed, skier triggered roller balls and pin wheels were noted to form above 8,800'.
