Shallow pockets of wind slab formed by west-southwest winds exist at the upper elevations and in isolated areas at the mid elevations. These surface slabs could be human triggered in very steep terrain. Increasing winds will drift available snow along the highest ridge lines and begin to create shallow pockets of new wind slab on leeward slopes.
Pockets of wind slab 6 to 18 inches in depth lie upon firm old snow surfaces and could be human triggered in steep wind loaded avalanche starting zones at the upper elevations. At the mid elevations small pockets of wind slab 6 to 12 inches in depth could be human triggered in isolated areas.
Steady snowfall will continue overnight before gradually decreasing Tuesday morning. Additional accumulations of 6 to 10 inches in the mountains and 2 to 5 inches in the valleys are expected by noon tomorrow. Temperatures in the mountains will remain in the 20s overnight and on Tuesday. Valley temperatures are forecast to be in the upper 20s to mid-30s. Strong southwest winds will create areas of blowing snow at all elevations. Speeds of 35 to 55 are forecast for the summits. Gusts from 20 to 30 miles per hour are likely in the valleys. Dryer conditions are expected in the afternoon and evening. Strong southwest winds will create unstable surface slabs that will be sensitive to human triggers in steep terrain. These surface slabs could attain depths of one to two feet and could fail on density differences within the recent new snow and on slick old snow surfaces. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be CONSIDERABLE at the upper elevations and MODERATE at the mid and lower elevations.
