Mountain temperatures cooled into the low 20s overnight, and skies were mostly clear fostering radiational cooling. This scenario has allowed the saturated snow surfaces to freeze above 7,500 feet which has temporarily removed the threat of wet slides. In very steep terrain, the chance for wet slabs and wet loose avalanches could reemerge when surface crusts breakdown as the day warms. Take note of how quickly temperatures rise and how the sun affects the top of the snowpack. When surface crusts start to become unsupportable, transition to cooler terrain. Most areas below 7,500 feet have insufficient snow depths to produce significant avalanche activity.
Above 7,500 feet, warming temperatures and periods of sunshine will soften frozen snow surfaces starting in the mid elevations then climbing into higher elevation terrain. Once surface crusts break down, skiers and riders could trigger wet slabs 6 to 18 inches deep in very steep terrain on a variety of aspects.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )As a weak ridge of high pressure builds over the region, expect decreasing cloud cover overnight followed by partly cloudy to mostly sunny skies during the day on Saturday. Temperatures will continue to cool overnight with lows in the mountains near 20. By Saturday morning, the valleys could dip into the mid-20s. Temperatures will rebound on Saturday with the higher elevations warming to near freezing as the valleys climb into the mid-40s. Westerly ridgetop winds will range from 20 to 30 miles per hour.With a substantial freeze forecasted overnight, the general avalanche hazard is expected to be LOW Saturday morning. As the day warms, the chance for shallow wet slides in very steep terrain could reemerge when surface crusts breakdown increasing the hazard to MODERATE. Take note of how quickly temperatures rise and how the sun affects the top of the snowpack. When surface crusts start to become unsupportable, transition to cooler terrain.
