Buried layers of surface hoar are a concern in areas with a deeper snow pack. Poor snow structure, with surface slabs on a base of well-developed faceted snow can be found at the lower elevations and in areas at the higher elevations with a shallow snowpack (less than 4 feet). Skiers and riders could trigger small to large persistent slab avalanches in steep, avalanche prone terrain at the mid and upper elevations. Evaluate terrain and snowpack carefully. Collapses are a sign of instability. Avalanches are unlikely at the lower elevations except on isolated terrain features.
In steep terrain at the mid and upper elevations slab avalanches 1 to 3 feet in depth could be triggered by humans on persistent weak layers of faceted snow.
The dry weather will continue through most of Tuesday. In the afternoon clouds will begin to increase ahead of a weak Pacific system. At elevation temperatures will drop in to the low teens tonight and rise into the upper 20s on Tuesday. Valley temperatures will drop below zero and then rise into the low 20s. Winds will be from the south-southwest and increase from 5 to 10 miles per hour.The general avalanche hazard is expected is to be moderate at the mid and upper elevations and low below an elevation of 7,500 feet. In steep terrain at the mid and upper elevations humans could trigger large slab avalanches up to three feet in depth on buried weak layers of faceted snow. Evaluate terrain and the snowpack carefully.
