Both wet-loose and wet-slab human triggered avalanches are likely today. The primary concern is wet-slab avalanches, which are more destructive and far less predictable than wet-loose slides. The potential for wet slabs exists on most aspects with the exception of the highest elevation northerly terrain. While wet slabs can be difficult to anticipate, the same red flags apply: rollerballs, saturated surface snow, and unsupportable conditions are clear signs of instabiltiy. After two nights without a re-refreeze, conditions are already on the edge and today's warm up will quickly lead to instability. Avoiding avalanche terrain is recommended today.

Buried layers of weak, faceted snow continue to plague our snowpack near and above treeline on northerly facing slopes. Above treeline, thick, hard slabs 2-4 feet thick sit on top of these persistent weak layers. Although the likelihood for triggering a deep and dangerous avalanche has significantly decreased, all it takes is finding the right trigger point such as a shallow, rocky area or thin spot over a convexity.

The ongoing heatwave will likely increase the sensitivity of these weak layers. Cold, dry facets can often come back to life during periods of extreme heat. Right now, the risks of entering steep northerly terrain outweigh the potential rewards.