Up to 17 inches of new snow with 1.5 inches of moisture has fallen in the mountains since early yesterday morning. Increasing winds are forecast to create areas of blowing snow at all elevations. These winds will rapidly increase the avalanche hazard and create dangerous conditions. Natural avalanche activity is likely on a variety of aspects at all elevations. Large avalanches are likely and very large avalanches are possible. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended during periods of high hazard.
Increasing southwest winds be will rapidly loading a snowpack with poor structure. Slab avalanches up to three feet in depth are very likely to release naturally or be easily triggered by humans at the mid and upper elevations. Similar events are likely on a variety of aspects at the lower elevations with depths from 1 to 2 feet.
At the mid and upper elevations today's loading event could cause large to very large slab avalanches to release naturally on persistent weak layers that formed earlier in the season. These dangerous and destructive slab avalanches could be 3 to 5 feet deep and may run long distances.
Dry, mostly clear conditions are expected on Tuesday. Mountain temperatures are to rise from the single digits to the mid-twenties. Winds are to be light. The general avalanche hazard will be Considerable above 7500 feet and Moderate below that elevation. At higher elevations recently formed wind slabs will be sensitive to skiers or riders in steep loaded terrain to depths of three feet. These slabs will increase in sensitivity as the day warms and could step down to older persistent weak layers in the snowpack. Do not allow a calm, beautiful day lure you into terrain where these recently formed unstable slabs lie. At lower elevations pockets of instability could be found with depths to eighteen inches.
