Low hazard does not mean no hazard. Yesterday, a skier triggered an eighteen inch pocket of wind slab on an easterly aspect a 10,400 feet in Grand Teton National Park. At the mid and upper elevations, backcountry travelers might be able trigger similar isolated pockets of surface slab on very steep, wind-loaded slopes.
In very steep terrain and cliff areas, skier and riders might be able to trigger wind slabs with depths of six to eighteen inches. Abundant sunshine and little wind may make these slabs more susceptible to failure on sunlit aspects in the afternoon.
Skies are expected to be mostly sunny again on Saturday. Temperatures will drop to near 10 degrees by daybreak and will rise into the 20s in the mountains and into the 30s in the valleys. Winds will continue to be light and variable. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be LOW at the lower elevations of all forecast areas and at all elevations in the Teton Area. A MODERATE hazard persist at the higher elevations of the Togwotee Pass/Continental Divide and Greys River/Southwest Trails areas where some potential may persist for larger triggers like snowmachines and groups of snowmachines to trigger deep persistent slab avalanches in isolated areas. These dangerous slabs could be up to six feet deep. Isolated pockets of wind slab up to 18 inches in depth could also be human triggered at the upper elevations in all forecast areas.
