New snow and westerly winds have formed pockets of wind slab above 8500 feet and isolated pockets below that elevation. Backcountry travelers could trigger these slabs in steep terrain as well as loose snow sloughs in very steep terrain. Avoid travelling into areas where small slides can have high consequences. As skies clear and temperatures rise, wet slide activity may become possible involving the new snow at all elevations. At low elevations wet slides could also involve snow to the ground.
Soft slabs to one foot in depth could be triggered in wind loaded avalanche starting zones. These slabs formed during high snowfall rates and are expected to become less sensitive as the day progresses.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Snow showers are to continue into the night. Snowfall will be most consistent in the mountains of the southwest trails area. Snow showers are to taper off by noon on Tuesday. Additional accumulations of one to three inches are possible in the mountains with minimal accumulations at the lower elevations. Temperatures are to drop into the teens overnight at the higher elevations and into the twenties in the valleys. As skies clear tomorrow afternoon, temperatures are to reach the upper twenties in higher terrain and the upper thirties down low. The general avalanche danger will be Low on Tuesday. The new snowfall will bond to the mostly stable snowpack that has gone through several melt-freeze cycles. At the higher elevations, isolated pockets of wind slab and loose snow sloughs could still be triggered in cliff areas or in extreme terrain.
