Winds on the higher peaks have increased and may redistribute the recent new snow onto leeward aspects. If you are venturing into steep avalanche prone terrain be aware of the potential for small pockets of unstable snow to exist on leeward aspects. Even small avalanches can have serious consequences in long, sustained couloirs, on hanging snow fields and in cliff areas. Large avalanches are unlikely.
At the highest elevations westerly winds may begin to form isolated pockets of soft slab. These slabs could build to depths of 6 to 12 inches. A human who triggers one of these fresh slabs could be knocked over and carried in very steep terrain.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Weak ridging will take over for the rest of the night and into Monday. Winds will remain light from the north through the night. West winds will return during the day with some 20 to 30 mile per hours gusts at the higher elevations during the afternoon. Temperatures will fall into the lower single digits by morning and rise into the 20's and 30's under mostly sunny skies on Monday. On Monday the general avalanche hazard is expected to be low. On the peaks and along the higher ridge crests increasing winds could begin to redistribute the recent new snow. At the upper elevations some potential may exist for loose snow sluffs and isolated pockets of soft slab up to a foot in depth to be human triggered in extreme terrain. Tomorrow's sunshine may cause shallow loose snow sluffs in sunlit cliff areas.
