At the mid and upper elevations new snow and strong southwest winds will combine to increase the hazard during the day. Dense surface slabs could be human triggered in steep avalanche starting zones and cliff areas. Some potential may remain for humans to trigger deep persistent slabs in areas with poor snowpack structure. At the lower elevations rain and warm temperatures will create the potential for wet slides to occur on steep snow-covered slopes.
Dense winds slabs up to two feet in depth could be human triggered in steep avalanche starting zones and cliff areas, and will be gaining volume and depth as the day progresses. These surface slabs could trigger deep hard slabs.
Todays new snow will increase the load on deep hard slabs. Some potential may persist for humans to trigger these slabs in areas where weak faceted snow exist near the base of the snowpack.
Todays rainfall will be increasing the chances for wet slides to occur on steep snow-covered slopes at the lower elevations.
Colder air will move into the area overnight. Snow levels will fall to the valley level by morning. A slow clearing trend will occur on Tuesday with additional but diminishing mountain snowfall. Skies should begin to clear later in the day. Temperatures in the mountains will drop into the teens overnight and rise into the 20s during the day. Valleys temperatures should drop below freezing overnight and rise into the low to mid 30s during the day. West winds will veer to the northeast. Winds speeds of 25 to 35 with higher gusts will accompany the snowfall. On Tuesday new wind slabs that formed overnight are likely to be easily triggered by humans on steep wind loaded slopes and could attain depths of one to two feet. In areas with poor snowpack structure the potential for humans to trigger dangerous deep hard slabs will continue to be a concern. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be CONSIDERABLE in areas with poor snowpack structure (Greys River/Southwest Trails and Togwotee Pass/Continental Divide Areas) and MODERATE in locations where the threat of deep instabilities is limited to isolated areas.
