Dangerous avalanche conditions exist above 7500 feet. Skiers and riders have the potential to trigger surface slabs formed by recent snow and wind as well as deeper slabs involving persistent weak layers of snow and old crusts. As the next system arrives this afternoon the size and sensitivity of both of these hazards will increase. Yesterday several human triggered soft slab events were reported in the Tetons and a snowmobiler was partially buried after being caught and deploying his airbag in the Salt River range. Cautious routefinding and conservative decision-making is essential today. Avalanche activity below 7500 feet is not expected today.
Soft or hard slab avalanches involving buried weak faceted snow laying over hard crusts formed in late November could be triggered with depths of two to four feet on a variety of aspects. Being caught in one of these dangerous slides could be fatal.
At the mid and upper elevations strong south to northwest winds have been and continue to form wind slabs on a variety of aspects. These slabs are forming on a variety of old snow surfaces including sun crusts and areas of recently formed surface hoar. These slabs could be human triggered on steep avalanche prone slopes with depths to 18 inches and have potential to step down to the deeper persistent weak layers.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Periods of light snowfall will continue in a northwest flow that will favor the west slopes of the Tetons and Togwotee Pass. After a bit of a break tomorrow morning the next colder storm system will begin to bring snow to all elevations in the afternoon. Temperatures will be mostly in the teens in the mountains and in the teens and 20s in the valleys. Winds will be westerly overnight and back towards the southwest during the day at speeds of 15 to 25 with gusts to 35 miles per hour.Today’s strong winds and snow have combined with buried weak layers to create dangerous conditions above an elevation of 7,500. Large slab avalanches with depths that range from 1 to 4 feet could be human triggered on steep avalanche prone slopes. Up there the general avalanche hazard is expected to be CONSIDERABLE. Avalanches are unlikely except in isolated areas below an elevation of 7,500 feet where the hazard is LOW.
