In a few, steep avalanche paths above 9,000 feet, the chance may persist for backcountry travelers to trigger hard slab avalanches failing on deep instabilities within the snowpack. Slab avalanches are not expected below 9,000 feet. As the day warms, very small wet slides could become possible on sunlit slopes in the afternoon if mostly clear skies persist.
Weak, faceted layers of snow are preserved in the snowpack. At the upper elevations, hard slab avalanches with depths to three feet could be triggered by snowmobilers on steep, avalanche-prone slopes. If mostly clear skies continue into the afternoon, the likelihood of triggering these slabs could increase on sunlit slopes.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Skies will be mostly cloudy overnight ahead of a weak, Pacific weather system and associated cold front slated to move over the region on Saturday. During the day, light snow showers will be possible in the mountains, and a few light rain showers could occur in the valleys. Overnight lows in the mountains will be in the upper 20s before rising to near freezing during the day. Southerly ridgetop winds will veer to the west at 15 to 25 miles per hour.The snowpack is mostly stable in the Tetons, and the general avalanche hazard is expected to remain LOW throughout the day on Saturday. Low hazard does not mean no hazard. Above 9,000 feet, skiers and riders might be able to trigger an isolated pocket of wind slab in very steep couloirs and cliff areas. In these areas, small slides can still result in serious consequences.In the Southwest Trails and Togwotee Pass forecast zones, the hazard is expected to remain MODERATE. In addition to the chance of triggering isolated pockets of recently developed surface slab, deep instabilities persist. Although failure is not expected in most areas, there remains a slight chance to trigger deep hard slabs in high, steep, avalanche-prone slopes that have not seen significant traffic this season.
