At the mid and upper elevations strong winds and increasing snowfall rates are creating dangerous avalanche conditions. These rapid loading conditions could trigger natural avalanche activity on a persistent weak layer. Large slab avalanches are possible on a variety of aspects. Human triggered avalanches are likely and due to the volume of the slabs these slides could have severe consequences. Careful assessment of the snow stability and terrain combined with conservative terrain choices will be essential for safe travel in avalanche terrain. At the lower elevations the snow is shallow and rain soaked.
At the mid and upper elevations a persistent weak layer of faceted snow is being rapidly loaded and is likely to become unstable. Large natural and human triggered avalanches are possible on a variety of aspects with depths from two to four feet. Being caught in one of these dangerous slides could be fatal.
At the mid and upper elevations strong south to west winds are forming new 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 several feet to a persistent weak layer and hard crust that formed in late November.
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.
