An avalanche warning has been issued by the Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended. During the past several days over two feet of new snow with over two inches of moisture has fallen in the mountains. Very strong winds with gusts to 68 miles per hour and increasing temperatures have accompanied that snowfall. Multiple natural avalanche events have impacted the highways in the Hoback and Snake River Canyon and WYDOT artificially triggered an avalanche in Glory Bowl that ran over the highway last night. Very large slab avalanches are likely to release naturally today and very likely to be human triggered.
Dense wind slabs with crown depths to four feet are likely to release naturally or be easily triggered by humans today. Once triggered these slabs could step down to buried weak layers.
Very large persistent slabs with depths of three to six feet could release naturally or be triggered by humans or the release of surface slabs. The likelihood of triggering these slabs will increase during the day as a snowpack with poor structure continues to be loaded by strong winds and new snow.
Light snow fall is expected to continue overnight with additional accumulations of 1 to 3 inches likely at the higher elevations. On Monday skies will be mostly cloudy with a decent chance for periods of light snowfall or flurries. Temperatures in the mountains will be in the teens and 20s. Winds will be west at 10 to 20 miles per hour.The avalanche warning issued by the avalanche center this morning has been terminated. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be CONSIDERABLE on Monday. The snowpack is still adjusting to the large load that it has received during this storm cycle. Areas of unstable snow exist and large human triggered avalanches remain likely on steep avalanche prone slopes. Cautious route finding and conservative terrain choices are warranted.
