900 AM PST THU DEC 27 2007 && ZONE AVALANCHE FORECASTS * OLYMPICS- WASHINGTON CASCADES- MT HOOD AREA- Considerable avalanche danger above 5000 feet and moderate below early Thursday. Avalanche danger increasing Thursday afternoon through Thursday night becoming considerable below 7000 feet with a locally high danger on steep lee slopes above about 5000 feet. Considerable avalanche danger below 7000 feet Friday with a locally high danger on steep north through east facing slopes above about 5000 feet. Avalanche danger gradually decreasing late Friday and Friday night becoming considerable above 6000 feet and moderate below. SNOWPACK ANALYSIS Varying amounts of new snow ranging from 2 to 4 inches at Mt Baker, near Crystal Mountain, Mt Rainier and along the east slopes to 10 to 14 inches in the Cascade pass areas and on Mt Hood. Overall, the snowpack continues to settle while also continuing to add additional new snow layers. This is shifting the current greatest concern to new snow instabilities and gradually away from the early December crust. There is another crust layer formed last Sunday when warming and rain reached to high elevations in some areas, mainly Crystal Mountain, Mt Rainer and Mt Hood with limited crust layers forming in the passes and little or no crust formed in the Mt Baker area and north Washington Cascades. Some slides from explosive control have released to this more recently formed crust, especially in the Crystal and Mt Hood area where 2 to 4 feet slides have occurred. One slide initiated with a 2 lb charge on an east facing slope on Mt Hood released a 2 to 3 foot fracture that subsequently pulled out an additional 4 to 5 feet slide lower in the path. This slide ran fast and full path and was impressive. It is likely that it released back down to the early December crust. This may be a continued problem on slopes that have released multiple times during the heavy snowfall over the past two weeks. In general the main concern remains the most recent storm cycle snow layers. These are mainly within the most recent snow of 1 to 2 feet and especially on steep lee slopes near ridges at higher elevations above about 5000 feet. Widespread ski cut slides where released Wednesday by patrollers at Crystal Mtn, Alpental, Mt Baker and Mt Hood Meadows. These slides were sensitive and ran fast but many broke up as very soft slabs. Some very strong winds occurred two days ago and that built some wind slabs of 1 to 2 feet in places that have now been buried by more low density snow. Therefore, unstable snow may be lurking below low density powder. Backcountry enthusiasts are urged to continue vigilance and perform numerous snow stability tests in safe test slope areas before venturing into steeper terrain. There remain some great backcountry conditions however in more protected slopes away from wind loading affects, so enjoy that wonderful powder in those protected areas, such as lower angled slopes and slopes in wind sheltered areas such as slopes with denser trees and well away from ridges where unstable wind slabs are more likely. DETAILED FORECASTS THURSDAY, THURSDAY NIGHT Light snow developing Thursday morning and increasing near midday and afternoon becoming moderate. Strong south to southwest crest level winds also developing midday through Thursday afternoon. This should cause an increasing avalanche danger with unstable wind slabs forming over weak low density snow making triggered slides on steep slopes probable. Some natural slides should be possible by Thursday afternoon or evening on steeper open slopes above about 5000 feet, these should be mainly on north through northeast facing. A shift to strong westerly flow Thursday night and continued moderate snow showers along the west slope areas should shift the danger to more easterly facing slopes. FRIDAY, FRIDAY NIGHT Strong west winds and continued moderate snow showers along mainly the west slope areas early Friday should maintain or continue to slightly increase the danger as further unstable wind slab layers form over a variety of weak layers from earlier storms. Triggered slab avalanches should remain probable on steep le slopes, especially above 5000 feet where extra caution is urged. Also, some natural slides should remain possible early Friday in steeper open terrain. Backcountry travelers should be very cautious and avoid any slopes where wind loading is evident. Slides initiated may travel fast and far and may step down to deeper weak layers. &&