With relatively warm temperatures and a sunny start to the day, loose wet conditions on sunny aspects are a possibility for Tuesday. Southerly aspects particularly from mid to lower elevations should be assessed for small point release potential and particularly rock fall. Additionally be on the look out for stubborn wind slabs in isolated areas of complex terrain. Unsupported slopes, convex rolls, or cross loaded terrain where the thin and spatially variable snowpack may be residing on weak or slick sliding surfaces will be of most concern.
Exposed terrain consists of firm, smooth wind board and both soft and hardened sastrugi. “Slide for life” conditions combined with sparse coverage and potential for hitting obstacles is the biggest hazard right now. There have also been reports of significant spin drift in the high alpine environment in tight and channeled terrain. A party in the Big Pine area this past Saturday experienced continuous stream like sloughing of spindrift while they were climbing a steep couloir.
The snowpack is extremely variable both in depth and structure across the forecast zone, so every drainage and mountain should be looked at with a critical eye to assess conditions in that specific area.