Recently developed winds slabs still warrant consideration for backcountry travelers venturing into avalanche terrain. Cloud cover should negate the effect of the sun. However, with warmer temperatures less sunshine will be needed to soften the frozen snow surfaces. If this occurs, start to consider moving to shaded terrain.
Wind slabs up to 18 inches deep lie upon hard melt-freeze crusts, sun crusts, and in some areas wind packed snow. Backcountry travelers venturing into very steep avalanche terrain might still be able to trigger these slides on a variety of aspects.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Cloud cover will increase overnight ahead of an approaching Pacific shortwave slated to move through the area on Tuesday. Accumulation with this system will be light. Overnight lows in the mountains will be near 10 before rising into the upper 20s during the day. Westerly to southwesterly ridgetop winds will be light at 5 to 15 miles per hour.Above 7,500 feet, the General Avalanche Hazard is expected to be MODERATE on Tuesday. In very steep, wind loaded avalanche terrain, backcountry travelers might be able to trigger pockets of wind slab 6 to 18 inches in depth. These slabs could fail either on density breaks within the storm snow or possibly down to the mid March hard snow surfaces. Cloud cover should negate the effect of the sun. However, with warmer temperatures less sunshine will be needed to soften the frozen snow surfaces. If this occurs, start to consider moving to shaded terrain.
