Up to 10 inches of dense snow has fallen at the higher elevations since Sunday night. This new snow lies upon faceted snow and crusts. Dense surface slabs could be human triggered in steep terrain. At the lower elevations loose wet slides are possible on very steep slopes where rain has fallen and the snowpack is isothermal.
Dense surface slabs up to 18 inches in depth could be human triggered in steep terrain. These slabs were formed by west winds and could fail on hard crusts and faceted snow formed during the recent dry period and in isolated areas have some potential to step down to a layer of buried surface hoar that formed in mid January.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )A second pulse of moisture has arrived and will bring snow to the region overnight and into Tuesday morning before tapering off in the afternoon. Five to ten inches of new snow are expected at the higher elevations during this period. Temperatures in the mountains will be in the 20s and will continue to rise overnight. Strong southwest winds will create areas of blowing and drifting snow.The avalanche hazard will be on the increase overnight and through the day. Dense surface slabs formed by southwest winds will build to depths of two feet at the mid and upper elevations. These slabs will be bigger than they were today and therefor the consequences of being caught by one will be more severe. They will lie upon hard crusts and weak layers of faceted snow and could be human triggered or release naturally. The general avalanche hazard is expected to rise to MODERATE in the mountains in our entire forecast region and, if the weather forecast verifies, will likely rise to CONSIDERABLE in the areas which receive the most snow and wind.
