At the mid and upper elevations skiers and riders could trigger slab avalanches in steep terrain and cliff areas. These slabs lie upon a persistent weak layer and could be triggered after a suspect slope have been previously crossed. The potential for humans to trigger these slides will increase as the day warms, especially on steep sunlit aspects. Avalanches are unlikely at the lower elevations except in isolated pockets.
Dense, surface slabs, up to two feet in depth, lie upon a buried layer of surface hoar and could be triggered by skiers or riders in steep terrain. The sensitivity of these slabs to human triggers will increase as the day warms.
The region will experience dry and very warm temperatures under a building high pressure ridge. Temperatures will become inverted overnight. On Monday skies will be mostly sunny above areas of morning valley fog. Temperatures at dawn are forecast to be in the teens in the valleys and in the mid-20s at the higher elevations. Daytime highs will approach 40 degrees in the mountains and rise into the low to mid 30s in the valleys. Winds will decrease to around 5 miles per hour and back to the south.Warm temperatures and sunshine will cause the hazard to increase during the day. Surface slabs up to 18 inches in depth will become increasingly sensitive to human triggers in steep terrain and cliff areas as the day progresses. Some potential may exist, in isolated areas, for these slabs to step down to deeper layers of faceted snow. The general hazard is expected to be MODERATE.
