ZONE AVALANCHE FORECASTS OLYMPICS-WASHINGTON CASCADES NEAR AND WEST OF THE CREST- Increasing considerable avalanche danger above 3-4000 feet Wednesday, especially Stevens and Snoqualmie, and moderate below. Avalanche danger decreasing on Thursday becoming considerable above 5-6000 feet and moderate below. WASHINGTON CASCADES EAST OF THE CREST- Increasing considerable avalanche danger above about 6000 feet Wednesday and moderate below. Avalanche danger decreasing on Thursday becoming moderate below 7000 feet with the main danger at higher elevations. MT HOOD AREA- Increasing considerable avalanche danger above about 4-5000 feet Wednesday and moderate below. Avalanche danger decreasing on Thursday becoming considerable above 6-7000 feet and moderate below. SNOWPACK ANALYSIS Strong west winds and several inches of new snow at generally warmer temperatures have been seen Wednesday morning near and west of the Cascade crest. Temperature increases for the past 24 hours range from 5 to 15 deg F at most sites with the strongest rises in the Cascade passes. This weather will have build new potential higher density wind slab layers of possibly a foot or more on lee east aspects. These potential slab layers with have built over previous weaker buried hoar frost and lower density snow layers that have recently been reported in most areas. Slab releases in the new snow may step into these layers. Hence human triggered slab avalanches should already be probable on steeper lee slopes at higher elevations by Wednesday morning. The mid December crust should now be generally buried about 1-4 feet below the surface. Faceting of layers adjacent to the mid December crust has also been reported but there have been no reports of releases to these layers. On some wind exposed slopes the snow may remain scoured to the mid December crust. At lower elevations especially along the lower Cascade east slopes a continued shallow snow pack is probably limiting the avalanche danger. WEDNESDAY Strong west winds and continued snowfall is expected Wednesday mainly near and west of the crest. West winds may be strongest and snowfall heaviest in the central Cascade passes namely Stevens and Snoqualmie. This should maintain or continue to build slab layers on lee aspects mainly near and west of the crest. This should be mainly steeper east aspects at higher elevations and in the central Cascade passes which is where human triggered slab avalanche should be probable. Winds and snowfall should begin to decrease Wednesday afternoon and evening. This should allow the snowpack to start to stabilize and begin to slightly decrease the avalanche danger. THURSDAY Decreasing clouds are expected Thursday with partly to mostly sunny weather initially in the north and central part Thursday afternoon. West winds at crest level should greatly decrease on Thursday with a change to light east winds in the Cascade passes. This weather will allow new potential slab layers on lee slopes to partly stabilize. Some of these slab layers may linger mainly at higher elevations. This should continue to be mainly on steeper east aspects at higher elevations and in the central Cascade passes. Backcountry travelers should continue to use caution especially on these slope on Thursday and remember to reevaluate snow when moving to new aspects.