900 AM PST FRI FEB 15 2008 && ZONE AVALANCHE FORECASTS * OLYMPICS, WASHINGTON CASCADES NORTH OF STEVENS PASS- MODERATE avalanche danger below 7000 feet Friday, slowly increasing later afternoon, becoming considerable above 6000 feet and moderate below. gradually decreasing danger Friday night. Moderate avalanche danger below 7000 feet Saturday and Saturday night with pockets of considerable above 5-6000 feet near ridges. * WASHINGTON CASCADES FROM STEVENS PASS SOUTHWARD- MT HOOD AREA- MODERATE avalanche danger below 7000 feet Friday, slightly increasing danger expected late Friday, but danger decreasing slightly Friday night. MODERATE danger below 7000 feet Saturday and Saturday night. OUTLOOK SUNDAY- Avalanche danger increasing Sunday, mainly during the late morning and afternoon becoming considerable above 4 to 5000 feet and moderate below. SNOWPACK ANALYSIS Generally light amounts of new snow up to 6 inches were received late Tuesday and early Wednesday at cooling temperatures. The cooling temperatures created a mostly fair bond to the underlying crust as reported by recent field reports and NWAC snow tests. The crust is of variable strength depending upon aspect and elevation and may determine how enjoyable or painful the ski and boarding descent may be. Also, recent moderate and gusty west to northwest winds have caused some surface wind crusts adding to the travel challenges. The bridging crust from the recent warm weather is limiting the avalanche potential to the upper surface snow layer. The recent moderate west to northwest crest level winds over the past few days have transported some loose surface snow to lee slopes and built some cornices and potentially unstable wind slab layers, mainly on some higher elevation lee slopes, primarily east to southeast facing. A few shallow soft slab ski triggered releases were noted Wednesday in the Crystal Mountain backcountry but were isolated in nature and ranged up to 6 inches. For future note, some surface hoar has been seen in study plots over the past few days and may be a potential layer if buried intact by any light snow received Friday. FRIDAY, FRIDAY NIGHT Cloudy with light rain or snow over the Olympics and north-central Washington Cascades Friday, with increasing clouds and some light showers reaching the southern Washington Cascades and Mt Hood area Friday afternoon and evening. Freezing levels should lower later Friday with moderate westerly crest level winds by afternoon. This should cause a slight danger increase by later Friday, mainly in the north where slightly greater new snow is expected. Only a limited danger increase is expected in the south. Showers should end Friday night with decreasing wind. This should allow for a slow decrease in danger. SATURDAY, SATURDAY NIGHT Cool and mostly cloudy early Saturday with generally light northwest winds at crest level. This should allow for a further slow decrease in danger. The main danger should remain at higher elevations in the north where some pockets of wind deposited snow may persist near ridges on lee slopes where back country travelers should use caution. Decreasing clouds and gradual warming Saturday night with winds shifting to easterly should not change the danger appreciably. OUTLOOK SUNDAY Clearing and warming Sunday with freezing levels rising above 10,000 feet for the first time this winter. This should allow for an increasing danger as surface snow becomes wet and weak. Wet loose or isolated wet slab releases should be possible Sunday on a variety of aspects, but especially sun exposed terrain. Also, a significant danger increase may be experienced above 7000 feet as significantly more recent snowfall may be available to become entrained in a slide. Climbers venturing above 7000 feet should be extra cautious as surface snow melts and weakens. &&