This is Matt Lutz of the Sawtooth National Forest Avalanche Center with
 your Backcountry Avalanche Advisory and Weather Forecast for Tuesday,
 March 4, 2008 at 7:30 am.

 The Wattis Dumke Foundation & the Friends of the Sawtooth Avalanche
 Center bring you this advisory.

 Bottom Line:
 Today the avalanche danger on exposed higher elevation lee slopes is
 estimated to be MODERATE. Consistent moderate westerly winds
 combined with a few inches of overnight snow have likely formed new
 wind slabs on northeast, east and southeast facing ridgelines. The
 forecast for today calls for continued moderate winds with stronger
 gusts out of the northwest. The avalanche danger elsewhere is estimated
 to be LOW.

 Primary Avalanche Concern:

 
 

 

 

 Over night our forecast area received a few inches of new snow
 accompanied by moderate westerly winds. Some areas of the Salmon
 Headwaters and Sawtooth Mountains may have received up to 4 to 6 inches
 of new snow. The new snow is fairly low density and will have been
 easily transported by the accompanying winds. Watch for newly formed
 wind slabs on easterly facing exposed ridgelines. These slabs will
 likely be sensitive but also fairly obvious. Todays forecasted winds
 will probably continue to add to these new wind slabs.

 Although the new slabs will not likely be all that hazardous they could
 be strong enough to knock people off their feet. If you find yourself
 wanting to enter steep, rocky or committing terrain be sure to have
 your eyes open and ski cut any suspicious wind slabs or pillows.

 Additional Discussion Over the last 3 weeks our forecast area has
 received very little new snow. This lack of snow has allowed the
 snowpack to stabilize quite nicely. As long as the weather stays
 relatively stable I do not expect to see avalanches involving the old
 or deep snow within our forecast area. This will continue to be the
 case until we get a more significant amount of precipitation or we get
 repeated nights without a freeze.

 Current Conditions:
 Cold overnight temperatures combined with the new snow will likely make
 for some nice dust on crust conditions on solar aspects. We are still
 getting reports of very nice soft snow riding conditions on shady north
 and northeast aspects. With the snowpack looking pretty strong this is
 a good time to go for a tour.

 Mountain Weather Forecast:
 A high pressure ridge off the coast of southern British Columbia is
 causing a brisk northwest flow over the Central Mountains of Idaho.

 Today may see some scattered snow showers with the potential for
 another inch of snow. Winds are expected to shift more northwesterly
 and slowly decrease in intensity through today. Temperatures are
 expected to stay fairly cool. Daytime high elevation ridgelines
 temperatures are expected to top out around 16 degrees in our northern
 terrain and 24 degrees in our southern terrain. The high pressure ridge
 is expected to strengthen tonight through Wednesday and provide for a
 dry and stable air mass.