Avalanche conditions remain dangerous above 7,500 feet. Skiers and riders could trigger small to large wind slabs in steep, wind loaded terrain. Loose snow sluffs involving the recent snowfall pose a threat on very steep, long, sustained chutes and couloirs. Persistent slab avalanches present a much higher concern. Skiers and riders could easily trigger these slabs on a variety of aspects and elevations. Don’t let the new snow and the holiday weekend impair your judgement; conservative terrain choices and careful snowpack evaluation will be necessary for safe travel in avalanche terrain.
Between 1.0 and 1.5 inches of snow water equivalent has been added to widespread persistent weak layers in the snowpack since Thursday evening. Skiers and riders are likely to trigger deadly slab avalanches up to 4 feet deep failing on these faceted layers. These slabs could also step down from the release of a wind slab.
Since Thursday evening, 14 to 20 inches of new snow has fallen on Togwotee Pass. Southwesterly to westerly ridgetop winds at 15 to 30 miles per hour accompanied this snowfall, and soft wind slabs formed in leeward terrain above 7,500 feet. In many areas, these slabs reside above hard wind pack from the extended wind event earlier in the week. In steep, wind loaded terrain above 7,500 feet, skiers and riders could trigger these slabs with depths up to 24 inches.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Expect overcast skies and some light snow showers overnight. Snowfall will taper off during the day on Sunday, and skies will be partly to mostly cloudy by the evening. Mountain temperatures will drop into the lower singled digits as an arctic airmass drops down from the north. Daytime highs will only climb into the upper single digits. Southwesterly to westerly ridgetop winds will range from 5 to 15 miles per hour.Avalanche conditions are dangerous across the region, and the general avalanche hazard is expected to remain Considerable on Sunday. In steep, wind loaded terrain above 7,500 feet, skiers and riders could trigger soft wind slabs that formed over the last 3 days. These slabs are likely to range in depth from 1 to 3 feet with the Tetons on the higher end of the spectrum. On a variety of aspects and elevations, persistent slab avalanches up to 4 feet deep remain a concern in the Tetons, primarily in terrain that has fairly shallow snow depths. The Togwotee Pass snowpack is much shallower than the Tetons, and weak, faceted snow is widespread. There, backcountry travelers could easily trigger similar sized slabs on most aspects and elevations. The snowpack in the Southwest Trails varies between the other two forecast zones, and human triggered persistent slabs will be possible on many slopes. Don’t let the new snow and the holiday weekend impair your judgement. Conservative terrain choices and excellent snowpack evaluation will be necessary for safe travel in avalanche terrain on Sunday.
