Wet loose avalanche activity and cornice failure is possible at the mid and high elevations today. At the high elevations overnight freezing has hardened the snow surface. Sunlight and warm temperatures will quickly soften this surface. At the mid elevations, the snowpack is weaker as recently received rain, warm overnight temperatures and some cloud cover prevented freezing. Evaluate terrain carefully today and identify features or areas where the wet slide activity is more likely.
Wet loose slides are possible in very steep terrain on a variety of aspects. These slides could begin as a few inches of surface snow and then entrain deeper and deeper layers of snow in steep and long slidepaths.
Large overhanging cornices could fail due to sustained warm temperatures and rain at the higher elevations. Cornice failures could trigger large wet slab avalanches on steep slopes. Avoid cornices and the slopes beneath them.
Following shower activity with possible lightning this evening, high pressure is to build tonight thru Tuesday morning. A wave of pacific moisture will lead to more widespread showers and possible thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon. Mountain temperatures should rise from just below freezing to the upper forties before these disturbances arrive, resulting in the snow line being around 9500 feet at the onset of the showers. The general avalanche hazard will be Moderate on Tuesday. Although a harder surface crust is expected at high elevations in the early morning, it will quickly break down. Generally the snowpack remains warm and weak. The chance continues to trigger small wet slides that could entrain significant amounts of snow in longer paths, particularly at the mid elevations. Large cornices that have not failed will be fragile to human presence and could peel off naturally.
