At the upper elevations soft slab avalanches were triggered by skiers and a cornice failure yesterday. Similar events are possible today above an elevation of 9,000 feet in steep wind loaded avalanche paths. These slides can flush a person down a steep couloir, over a cliff or bury them in a terrain trap. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully and avoid features of concern. Avalanches are unlikely at the mid and low elevations.
Pockets of wind slab up to eighteen inches in depth lie upon older hard snow surfaces and could be human triggered in steep upper elevation avalanche starting zones and cliff areas. Sunlight and rising temperatures may increase the sensitivity of these slabs as the day warms.
Periods of snow will occur tonight and on Monday. The first round of snow will move into the region overnight with several inches of accumulations possible at the higher elevations by daybreak. There may be a decrease in the snowfall intensity or a break in the snowfall during the day. Temperatures will be in the 20s in the mountains and in the 20s and 30s in the valleys. Winds will be southwest at 10 to 20 miles per hour.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE at the upper elevations in all of our forecasts zones where humans could trigger soft slab avalanches on steep wind loaded avalanche prone slopes. In the Togwotee Pass/Continental Divide forecast area some potential may persist for snowmobilers to trigger deeper hard slabs in isolated areas. The hazard is expected to be LOW below an elevation of 9,000 feet in all of our forecast areas.
