New snow and wind have created pockets of wind slab at the upper elevations and in isolated areas on steep northerly facing terrain at the mid elevations. Slab avalanches up to a foot in depth could be human triggered in very steep terrain where these slabs have formed upon old snow surfaces. Avalanches are not likely in areas where new snow has accumulated on bare ground. Information about our old snow surfaces can be found in our weekly snowpack summaries. The ground surface is generally bare below an elevation of 8,000 feet.
At the higher elevations west to southwest winds have formed pockets of wind slab six to 12 inches in depth on leeward aspects. These slabs could be triggered by humans in steep terrain with where old snow surfaces exist beneath these newly formed surface slabs.
A cold front on the southern margin of this large storm system is forecast to approach the region overnight. This front may bring three to six inches of snow to the upper elevations and more rain showers to the valleys by tomorrow morning. Temperatures in the mountains will be in the 20s and 30s. Winds will be west-southwest at 15 to 25 with gusts to 40 miles per hour. In the Teton Range the general avalanche hazard is forecast to be MODERATE at the upper elevations (above an elevation of 9,000 feet). Pockets of wind slab up to 18 inches in depth could be human triggered on very steep slopes where drifted snow has accumulated on old snow surfaces. Avalanches are not likely in areas where the recent new snow has accumulated on bare ground. Isolated areas of instability are possible on very steep, north facing terrain down to an elevation of 8,500 feet. Evaluate snow conditions and terrain features carefully. Steep slopes above cliff areas and terrain traps warrant serious concern. The general avalanche hazard in the Continental Divide/Togwotee Pass and Greys River/Southwest Trails areas is expected to be LOW. Isolated pockets of wind slab up to a foot in depth could be human triggered above an elevation of 9,500 feet in very steep, northerly facing avalanche starting zones. Watch out for areas of unstable snow in isolated terrain features.
