Newly formed wind slabs will increase in size and sensitivity today as they are further loaded by additional snowfall and southwest winds. Backcountry travelers could easily trigger these slabs at all elevations today in areas where wind loading has occurred. Identify features of concern and exercise conservative decision making in order to avoid these hazards.
Soft to hard slabs could be triggered on all elevations and aspects today. These slabs lie over surface hoar and faceted snow in most terrain, and in high exposed terrain, lie upon hard snow surfaces. These slabs could have depths to two feet as they are further loaded by additional snowfall today.
Snow is to continue through this evening. On Friday, periods of snowfall are likely as generally drier air moves through. Accumulations of approximately four more inches are possible overnight with one to three inches expected during the day. Temperatures are to be slightly warmer with mountain highs in the twenties and valleys reaching into the thirties.The avalanche hazard will be Considerable on Friday. Wind slabs are increasing in size at all elevations and lie upon hard snow surfaces in open exposed terrain at higher elevations and on faceted snow and surface hoar in most other terrain. These slabs will be present on wind loaded features in all forecast areas and all elevations. Slab depths could be over two feet tomorrow in locations that the storm has favored with higher snowfall amounts. In the Togwotee Pass and Southwest Trails areas, the chance for larger triggers to cause failure deep within the snowpack exists in high north facing terrain.
