At the mid and high elevations, skiers and riders have the potential to trigger dense to hard slabs that lie on persistent weak layers in very steep terrain. Avalanches at low elevations are not expected today.
Slabs that were formed by earlier snow and winds lie upon faceted snow over buried hard snow surfaces. The potential continues for these slabs to be released by the weight of a single person with depths to three feet. Thoughtful decision making is key as most terrain will show stability however these slabs still lurk in the mountains, particularly in very steep cliff areas.
The high pressure ridge that has dominated our weather is beginning to flatten and allow some limited moisture to move in from the west. Light snow is expected to develop overnight and become more widespread on Monday. Accumulations of up to two inches are possible at the higher elevations overnight with another 3 to 6 inches possible by Monday morning. Winds will be light from the west-southwest at around 10 miles per hour. Temperatures will drop into the teens overnight and rise into the 20s during the day.The general avalanche hazard remains MODERATE above an elevation of 8,000 feet. Skiers and riders could trigger dense surface slabs one to three feet deep in steep terrain. Avalanche activity below that elevation is limited to small slides in isolated areas and the hazard is LOW.
