Dangerous avalanche conditions exist. A series of storm systems has brought periodic snowfall to the area since Tuesday. During this time, over a foot of snow has fallen in the Togwotee Pass area. Winds that have been strong at times have varied from the south-southeast to the northwest. Caution is advised as the new and recently fallen snow could be easily triggered as soft slabs in steep leeward terrain by backcountry enthusiasts. Once triggered, such an event is likely to cause deeper instabilities in the snowpack to fail, likely resulting in large avalanches. The size and sensitivity of triggering these avalanche events is greatest above 8000 feet however human triggered low elevation slides also remain possible.
Since Wednesday, over an inch of snow water equivalent has been added to a snowpack with poor structure. This load has increased the likelihood of triggering dangerous slab avalanches with depths of one to three feet at the higher elevations and to eighteen inches at the lower elevations. .
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )The next system is to impact the area this evening and tonight. This could bring another seven or eight inches to the upper elevations of the Tetons by morning with the outlying areas and lower elevations receiving approximately five inches. Lingering snow showers will bring more accumulation and are expected to taper off through the day on Monday. Temperatures are to be cooler, with the mountains having highs in the low twenties. Southwest winds will be strongest during the snowfall with averages between twenty and thirty miles per hour. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be Considerable tomorrow. New snow will form new surface instabilities and could combine with the recently fallen snow to depths that could reach thirty inches in steep leeward terrain. These slabs could be triggered by a single person and could also release deeper weaknesses in the snowpack to depths to four feet at the higher elevations or to two feet at the lower elevations. Backcountry skiers and riders should exercise caution during this time of sensitive, dangerous conditions and elevated avalanche danger.
