At upper elevations new snow and winds overnight and expected snow today will create the potential for backcountry users to trigger soft slabs or sloughs to a foot in depth by the afternoon. At mid and low elevations the snowpack is mostly stable.
At upper elevations new soft wind slabs or sloughs will be increasing in size with new snowfall and wind. Slides will be easily triggered as the new snow rests on weak and/or slick surfaces of wind pack, sun crusts or faceted snow.
Periods of moderate to heavy snow are expected Sunday afternoon to midnight. Light snow with cooler temperatures is forecasted Monday. Storm totals by Monday morning will increase another three to four inches. Winds will be westerly at 15 miles per hour along the ridge tops and mountain temperatures will cool to the single digits by morning then rise to around 10 degrees during the day. The new snow has had little wind effect but backcountry users should expect easily triggered soft slabs and sloughs up to 18 inches in depth on avalanche prone terrain at mid and upper elevations where the hazard is expected to be MODERATE. Long, steep slopes, gullies and ravines should be avoided as seemingly harmless soft snow can build to dangerous volumes. At the lower elevations avalanches are unlikely.
