The potential persists for skiers and riders to trigger dense surface slabs in steep terrain at the mid and upper elevations.
Skiers and riders could trigger dense surface slabs up to two feet in depth. These slabs lie upon crusts and buried layers of faceted snow that formed in January and are unstable on steep slopes where faceted snow is well preserved or lies upon those crusts.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. ) The storm system passing to our north will continue to bring snow showers to the region through Tuesday morning before tapering off during the day. Cooler temperatures will change the rain showers to snow showers. Temperatures will drop into the 20s tonight and rise into the 20s in the mountains and 30s in the valleys on Tuesday. West winds will impact the higher elevations with average speeds of 25 to 35 and gusts from 45 to 55 miles per hour. Additional accumulations of four to ten inches of new snow are possible at the higher elevations. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE. New shallow wind slabs and denser older slabs, up to two feet in depth could be human triggered in steep terrain at the mid and upper elevations. Unstable areas of isothermal snow are possible on steep slopes at the lower elevations.
