Warm temperatures and sunshine will combine to increase the hazard as the day progresses. Pockets of wind slab and shallow loose snow sluffs pose a hazard to humans in very steep terrain and in cliff areas. Yesterday a small slide swept a local ski mountaineer to his death in the Apocalypse Couloir area on Prospector Mountain. This tragic accident occurred in extreme terrain. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.
Pockets of slab up to 18 inches in depth exist and could be triggered by the weight of a single person on steep slopes and in cliff areas and will become increasingly sensitive to human triggers as the day warms.
An area of low pressure and an associated cold front will quickly move across the region on Sunday. Snow is expected to develop overnight, become widespread and increase in intensity during the morning hours. New snow accumulations of four to seven inches are possible at the higher elevations by Monday morning. Southwest to west winds at 25 to 35 miles per hour will accompany this snowfall. Temperatures will be in the 20s.The new snow and wind will begin to create pockets of new soft slab on leeward aspects. These slabs could build to depths of six to 12 inches by Sunday afternoon. The general avalanche hazard is anticipated to be MODERATE in the Southwest Trails/Greys River area and at the higher elevations of the Continental Divide/Togwotee Pass and the Teton areas.
