A few inches of new snow has fallen on a snowpack that is underlain by persistent weak layers that formed in November. Above 8000 feet, skiers or riders have the potential to trigger slab avalanches involving these old weaknesses. The possibility also exists to initiate loose snow sloughing or shallow pockets of wind slab in steep upper elevation terrain. Identify areas of concern for safe backcountry travel today. At lower elevations, avalanches remain unlikely where less new snow has fallen on a shallow snow pack.
Slab avalanches up to 30 inches in depth could be triggered by a single person or by groups of skiers even after a slope has been tracked.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )A weak system is to bring periods of light snow to the mountains starting tonight. This chance is to continue through mid-morning Tuesday with mountain accumulations of two to four inches possible. Tuesday afternoon partial clearing and a brief period of mostly sunny skies are expected. Temperatures are to be on the colder side, with highs in the teens at the upper elevations following overnight lows in the single digits. West winds are to have averages between ten and fifteen miles per hour. The general avalanche danger will continue to be Moderate at the mid and upper elevations where a chance continues for backcountry travelers to trigger slab avalanches involving older weak snow to depths of thirty inches.
