Dense surface slabs formed by southwest winds lie upon persistent weak layers of buried surface hoar. These slabs could be human triggered today. They could be triggered by the weight of the first person on a slope or may be triggered after a slope has been crossed multiple times. The sensitivity of these slabs to human triggers may increase as temperatures warm on steep slopes that receive abundant sunshine.
Dense surface slabs one to two feet in depth could be human triggered on buried layers of surface hoar in steep terrain. In isolated areas these slabs have some potential to step down to deeper layers of buried surface hoar with depths to three feet.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )A high pressure ridge will build into the region from the west. Limited moisture in a northwest flow ahead of the ridge will keep a chance for snow showers in the mountains overnight. Clearing skies are expected on Tuesday. Northwest winds will slowly relax from speeds of around 20 to 10 miles per hour as the day progresses. Temperatures will drop to around 10 degrees by morning and rise into the teens and 20s during the day.Dense slab avalanches with depths of one to three feet could be human triggered in steep terrain at the mid and upper elevations. Shallow dense slabs up to foot in depth could be human triggered at the lower elevations in areas that do not have stout rain crusts. These slabs lie upon a persistent weak layer and will remain problematic with respect to the potential for them to be unintentionally triggered. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE above an elevation of 7,500 feet and LOW below that elevation.
