A foot or more of new snow has fallen at the upper elevations since Saturday evening. Strong winds have caused extensive drifting and loaded leeward aspects. Dense wind slabs could be triggered by skier and riders. Terrain features where theses new wind slabs are unsupported like hanging snowfields, cliff areas, steep couloirs and chutes are most likely to be unstable. Today's sunshine will be increasing the sensitivity of these slabs to human triggers. Don't let the clear skies cloud your judgement. Hold off on venturing into aggressive terrain until this snowpack has had time to adjust to the recent load placed upon it. Avalanches are unlikely below an elevation of 8,000 feet.
Strong southwest to west-northwest winds have created dense wind slabs. These slabs could be triggered by humans with depths from 1 to 2 feet in steep wind loaded avalanche starting zones. If triggered these slabs will be large enough to bury or injure a person.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Snow showers are likely until around midnight and could produce several inches of additional snowfall. Skies will be partly cloudy on Tuesday. Temperatures at daybreak will be in the single digits at 10,000 feet and in the low teens in the valleys. Daytime highs will rise into the 20s in the mountains and into the 30s in the valleys. Winds will be westerly and will relax to speeds of 15 to 20 miles per hour. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE at the higher elevations. Wind slab avalanches with depths to two feet could be triggered by skiers or riders on steep avalanche prone slopes. Avalanches are unlikely at the lower elevations.
