Dense new snow and strong winds are overloading a weak snowpack and creating dangerous avalanche conditions above an elevation of 7,500 feet. Human triggered avalanches are likely and natural avalanche activity is possible. Shallow wet slides are possible in steep snow covered terrain at the lower elevations. Route finding skills that employ caution and avoid steep slopes, gullies, avalanche paths and their run out zones are essential for safe travel in the mountains today.
Strong southwest to west winds have created dense new surface slabs on an unstable base comprised of faceted snow and hard old snow surfaces. These slabs are likely to be easily triggered by humans and could be remotely triggered and occur on steep slopes that don't frequently avalanche. These slabs are expected to be 12 to 18 inches in depth and could step down into old snow layers to depths of two feet.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Strong southwest to west winds and periods of snowfall are expected to continue into Tuesday. Additional accumulations of four to eight inches are possible in favored locations. Temperatures will rise to near 30 in the mountains and to near 40 degrees in the valleys.The dense new snow and strong winds will overload weak layers of faceted snow and create dangerous avalanche conditions at the mid and upper elevations. Human triggered slab avalanches up to two feet in depth are likely and could be remotely triggered. Natural avalanche activity is possible. The general avalanche hazard will rise to CONSIDERABLE if the snowfall continues through the night. Shallow wet slides are possible in steep snow covered terrain at the lower elevations. Route finding skills that employ caution and avoid avalanche paths and their run out zones are essential for safe travel in the mountains.
