New snow and strong west winds have formed new surface slabs at the mid and high elevations. Backcountry travelers could easily trigger these new slabs today in steep wind loaded avalanche terrain. This hazard will increase as the day progresses. Some potential also remains to trigger deeper persistent slabs at the high elevations. At low elevations pockets of new surface slabs could be triggered in the afternoon as snow accumulates.
New wind slabs lie in avalanche terrain. These slabs will be sensitive to backcountry riders and skiers in steep terrain with depths to over one foot this morning. Slabs will increase in size and sensitivity as continued snowfall, wind, and warming temperatures occur today.
Persistent slabs lie in some high elevation terrain in steep avalanche starting zones and rocky areas. Some potential remains to trigger these slabs. These slabs could add an additional two feet to crown depths and may release with the new surface slabs or after enough moving snow initiates them.
An additional one to three inches of new snow could accumulate overnight and into Sunday. Skies will be mostly cloudy, but periods of sunshine are possible. Overnight lows in the mountains will be in the low single digits before rising into the teens during the day. Ridgetop winds will veer to the northwest and increase to 15 to 25 miles per hour overnight before decreasing during the day.The General Avalanche Hazard is expected to be MODERATE on Sunday in the Tetons. Shifting ridgetop winds will redistribute the new light density snow, building wind slabs on exposed slopes. Backcountry travelers could trigger these slabs up to 18 inches deep in steep, wind loaded avalanche terrain. Loose snow sluffs will also remain a concern. Any extended periods of sunshine will make these slides more susceptible to failure on sunlit aspects.Persistent slabs up to three feet in depth continue to pose a threat to skiers and riders in the Greys River and Togwotee Pass areas. In the Togwotee Pass area, the General Avalanche Hazard is expected to be MODERATE. The General Avalanche Hazard is expected to be CONSIDERABLE in the Greys River area where these slabs are more widespread and easier to trigger. Today's new snow also added some weight to the underlying weak layers.
