Rising temperatures, heavy snowfall and strong winds will rapidly load slick old snow surfaces and create dangerous avalanche conditions. Natural avalanche activity is likely and may become widespread. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended at the mid and upper elevations and expert terrain evaluation and route selection skills are essential for travel in the backcountry at the lower elevations where the run-out zones of large avalanche paths and steep slopes should be avoided.
Dense surface slabs formed by southwest to west winds will gain depth and volume and become increasingly sensitive to human triggers and natural release as the day progresses and the hazard increases. These dangerous slabs are expected to reach depths of three feet and could run long distances.
Snowfall is expected to continue overnight as cooler air moves into the region. Up to six inches of lighter density snow could fall overnight at the higher elevations. Skies will be mostly cloudy on Monday morning with areas of light snowfall possible in the mountains. Clearing skies are expected in the afternoon. Strong northwest winds will continue overnight and begin to decrease during the day. Temperatures will be in the teens in the mountains and in the 20s in the valleys.Human triggered slab avalanches involving the recent new snow will be possible tomorrow in steep terrain at the mid and upper elevations. These slabs will have been formed by west-southwest to northwest winds and could be up to two feet deep. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be CONSIDERABLE or MODERATE at the upper and mid elevations and LOW at the lower elevations.
