Low avalanche hazard this morning will quickly rise to Moderate today as sunlight and warm temperatures weaken the surface of the snowpack and increase the possibility of triggering existing winds slabs as well as provide the chance for wet loose or shallow wet slab avalanches in steep terrain.
Above 8500 feet, pockets of wind slab up to eighteen inches in depth could be triggered in steep wind loaded avalanche stating zones, cliff areas and extreme terrain. These slabs were formed by southwest to northwest winds. Yesterday, such a slab was triggered on Beaver Mountain in the Hoback Canyon.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Another day of high pressure with sunny skies and a few high clouds is in store for Saturday. Temperatures should continue on their warming trend with mountain temperatures to reach into the mid to upper thirties while summits reach the low thirties.In the Southwest trails and Teton forecast areas the general avalanche hazard will be Low in the morning and increase to Moderate in the afternoon. Existing surface slabs formed by wind earlier in the week could have depths to one foot and become more sensitive as the day warms. The possibility for wet slides will also develop in the afternoon as heat penetrates more deeply into the snowpack. Similar conditions exist in the Togwotee pass area, however deeper weaknesses in the snowpack warrant the hazard to be Moderate throughout the day as a remote chance persists for large triggers to initiate large avalanches in isolated areas of north facing terrain.
