Sunlight and warm temperatures will weaken the surface of the snowpack today and increase the possibility of triggering existing winds slabs as well as provide the chance for wet loose or shallow wet slab avalanches in steep terrain.
At the upper elevations, pockets of wind slab up to eighteen inches in depth could be triggered in steep wind loaded avalanche stating zones, cliff areas and extreme terrain. These slabs were formed by southwest to northwest winds. Yesterday, such a slab was triggered on Beaver Mountain in the Hoback Canyon.
A few clouds may pass overhead during the evening hours. On Sunday skies will be clear. Temperatures will be similar to today with overnight lows near 20 and daytime highs rising into the 30s and 40s. Winds will be light from the west.Although the snowpack is mostly stable some hazards persist in very steep terrain at the upper elevations and at other elevations on very steep slopes where warm temperatures and sunshine cause significant softening of the snowpack. At the upper elevations pockets of surface slab with depths to 18 inches could be human triggered in steep, wind loaded avalanche starting zones. In the Togwotee Pass area there remains a chance for deep hard slab avalanches to be triggered in isolated areas at the higher elevations. The potential for humans to interact with these hazards will significantly increase as the day warms. At all elevations wet slides are possible on very steep slopes and cliff areas that experience intense warming. The hazard is expected be MODERATE at the upper elevations of the Continental Divide and to rise from LOW to MODERATE in the Teton and Greys River/Southwest Trails areas after snow surfaces soften.
