Strong ridgetop winds increased overnight and continued to build wind slabs. At the mid and upper elevations, skiers and riders could trigger these slabs in steep, wind-loaded terrain. As the day warms, the likelihood of triggering these slides will increase on sunlit aspects. Monitor the effect of the sun on the snowpack and avoid recently wind-loaded slopes. With the exception of some isolated pockets of wind slab in recently loaded terrain, the snowpack is mostly stable at the lower elevations.
Strong northerly to northwesterly ridgetop winds, with hourly averages up to 39 miles per hour and gusts to 64, have scoured windward terrain and created dense wind slabs on leeward slopes. On a variety of aspects above 8,000 feet, backcountry travelers could trigger these stiff slabs with depths ranging from 6 to 24 inches.
Clouds and winds are forecast to be on the increase as some Pacific moisture begins to move into the region. Temperatures will be in the single digits and teens in the morning and rise into the 20s. Winds will be westerly at 20 to 30 with gusts to 40 miles per hour. Light snowfall will begin to move into the northern portions of our forecast area by evening.In all forecast areas pockets of wind slab up to 24 inches in depth could be human triggered on steep slopes that have been recently loaded by north to west winds. Full depth slab avalanches are unlikely but remain a concern in isolated areas on northerly aspects above an elevation of 9,000 feet in the Southwest Trails and Togwotee Pass forecast areas. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE.
