Very strong winds, heavy snowfall and warming temperatures have created dangerous avalanche conditions. An avalanche warning has been issued for our region. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended. Over two feet of new snow with nearly two inches of moisture has fallen during the past two days. A potent storm moving into the region will further increase the hazard today. Yesterday a snowmobiler was caught and completely buried by a slab avalanche north of Teton Pass. He was rescued by companions. Similar events are likely today.
Winds slabs with depths to three feet created by northwest to southwest winds are very likely to be triggered by humans today and are likely to release naturally. These slabs will increase in size and volume as the day progresses and will be significantly larger than they have been during the previous two days.
Persistent layers of faceted snow lie in the snowpack. Rapid loading and warming temperatures will increase the potential for large dangerous slabs three to five feet in depth to be human triggered or release naturally.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )A potent storm system is on track to bring snow to the area starting around sunrise on Saturday. This storm will increase in intensity throughout the day with the heaviest snowfall expected on Saturday evening. Winds are to be very strong and westerly with gusts exceeding 60 miles per hour.The general avalanche hazard above 7,500 feet is expected to be CONSIDERABLE and may increase to HIGH in the afternoon as heavy snowfall and wind add additional loads to the snowpack. Wind slabs with depths that could reach three feet by the afternoon are expected to be very sensitive to human triggers. Older weaknesses in the snowpack could also fail with slab depths to an additional four feet possible. Deeper, persistent slabs have had limited activity in recent weeks however rapid loading tomorrow will increase the chance that these denser slabs could be triggered by moving wind slabs or by the weight of a single rider or skier. At lower elevations the general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE. New snow and warming temperatures will be increasing the hazard and the potential to trigger pockets of soft slab and loose snow sluffs in areas where weak faceted snow is prevalent. An Avalanche Watch is in effect for the area. This may be elevated to an Avalanche Warning tomorrow depending on the strength and timing of the storm.
