0830 AM PST WED FEB 13 2008 && ZONE AVALANCHE FORECASTS * WASHINGTON CASCADES, OLYMPICS, MT HOOD AREA- Moderate avalanche danger below 7000 feet Wednesday with pockets of considerable on southeast through northeast exposures above 5 to 6000 feet. Moderate avalanche danger below 7000 feet slightly increasing on Thursday, mainly on sun exposed terrain. Danger slightly decreasing Thursday night. SNOWPACK ANALYSIS Light to moderate amounts of new snow were received in most areas mid-late Tuesday through early Wednesday. This snow fell at gradually lowering temperatures and formed a good bond with the old wet and slowly refreezing snow surface that was present prior to snowfall in most locations. While this bond has helped to limit the danger increase, moderate southwest to northwest winds may have produced some shallow slabs over the strengthening though still relatively thin near surface crust. As a result, this weather has resulted in a moderate danger in most areas, with generally shallow loose or slabs possible in steeper terrain. However, some wind transport has slightly accentuated the danger on southeast through northeast exposures where pockets of considerable danger may exist on steeper terrain, mainly above about 5 to 6000 feet. Overall, several substantial to historic-level slide cycles mid-late last week combined with recently increasing and significant snowpack settlement and much less recent loading to greatly reduce the danger from the almost non-stop avalanche warning situation that persisted almost daily in most Northwest mountain locations from late January through last weekend. Some of the larger slides released from slopes that have not experienced significant avalanching for 20-30 or more years, taking out large swaths of timber, closing highways, and destroying structures. Fortunately, no one in the NW was killed or seriously injured by slides during this most recent avalanche episode in this rather remarkable La Nina winter. Unfortunately, some of the avalanche paths that were expected to release didnt, and some of the paths that hardly ever release did. As a result considerable amounts of the recent snow deposited during the last month remains as a potential future problem in some of the larger avalanche paths around the region. These larger paths that have yet to slide big may release if and when we experience a sustained warming and rain event, or in the spring if a rapid warming takes place. DETAILED FORECASTS WEDNESDAY Decreasing light showers are expected in most areas Wednesday morning, with partial clearing by mid-day and slowly clearing skies expected Wednesday afternoon. Along with generally decreasing winds and relatively low freezing levels, this weather should maintain current moderate danger levels in most areas except for a slight danger increase on slopes receiving sunshine. On slopes receiving sunshine, some surface melt from a gradually increasing sun angle in mid-February may produce some small loose or isolated shallow soft or wet slabs. WEDNESDAY NIGHT, THURSDAY, THURSDAY NIGHT Mostly fair skies and relatively light winds Wednesday night should be followed by mostly sunny and gradually warmer weather Thursday morning with considerable sunshine through increasing high clouds Thursday afternoon. Increased solar warming along with slowly rising freezing levels should produce a slight increase in the danger Thursday, especially on directly sun exposed southeast through southwest exposures. The greatest danger increase should be on steeper terrain beneath trees or cliffs where snow melting and releasing from tree boughs or rock faces may trigger mostly small loose or isolated soft or wet slab releases within the new snow over the slowly strengthening near surface crust. At this time, most releases should primarily involve only the most recently deposited new or recently wind transported snow. Also some wind transport by northerly winds at higher elevations may create further shallow slabs on south and southeast exposures. Increasing mid and high clouds Thursday night should allow for a slight decrease in the danger overnight as further snowpack settlement proceeds and wet surface snow refreezes and forms a thin melt freeze surface crust on previously sun exposed terrain. &&