Nearly a foot of snow has fallen at the higher elevations. This snow was accompanied by strong southwest winds. Skiers and riders could trigger surface slabs today that may step down to include deeper layers of the snowpack.
New dense snow has fallen on a variety of snow surfaces. This snow could be triggered in steep wind loaded areas with depths to eighteen inches.
Layers of crusts and faceted snow persist near the base of the snowpack in some steep areas at high elevations. Slab failure on this surface could have total depths to three feet.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning through Sunday. After decreasing snowfall intensity overnight, the next round of moisture will impact the area on Sunday. Very strong southwesterly to westerly ridgetop winds at 30 to 50 miles per hour will accompany the snowfall. Overnight lows in the mountains will be in the mid 20s before rising to near freezing during the day on Sunday.In the Tetons, where more new snow is anticipated, the General Avalanche Hazard is expected to increase to CONSIDERABLE by the afternoon. New storm slabs, building to two feet in depth, could be triggered by backcountry travelers in steep, wind loaded terrain. In heavily wind loaded areas, these slabs could also release naturally. By tomorrow afternoon, storm totals since Friday of two to two and a half inches of snow water equivalent could be added to the snowpack. This may be enough weight to initiate slides on deeper persistent weak layers from October.The General Avalanche Hazard in the Togwotee Pass and Greys River areas is expected to be MODERATE. Similar conditions exist there, but with decreased snow fall amounts the chance for triggering slides will be less and natural activity is not expected.
