The snowpack is mostly stable below an elevation of 9,000 feet. Areas of unstable snow exist at the upper elevations. At the upper elevations new wind slabs have been formed on leeward aspects. Today's sunshine will increase the likelihood for humans to trigger small slab avalanches and may cause loose snow sloughs to occur on steep sunlit aspects. These slides could pose a hazard to backcountry users who venture into steep couloirs, cliff areas and extreme terrain. Avalanches are unlikely below an elevation of 9,000 feet.
At the upper elevations pockets of wind slab up to two feet in depth could triggered by skiers or riders who venture into steep wind loaded avalanche starting zones. These slabs will become more sensitive to human triggers as the day progresses.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Snow shower activity will decrease overnight with the potential for the favored areas to receive another couple of inches of new snow. Clearing skies are expected on Wednesday. Temperatures will fall into low teens and 20s overnight and rise into the 20s and 30s in the mountains and into the 40s in the valleys. Winds will back to the southwest and decrease to 5 to 15 miles per hour. At the higher elevations small pockets of new wind slab could be triggered by skiers and riders who venture into steep, wind loaded avalanche starting zones. These small slabs could be a hazard in steep couloirs, cliff areas and above terrain traps. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODEARTE above an elevation of 9,000 feet and LOW below that elevation.
