Tetons

Low hazard does not mean no hazard. At the higher elevations, moderate to strong westerly ridgetop winds overnight combined with a few inches of new snow to form isolated pockets of shallow wind slab in leeward terrain near ridgelines. Up there, skiers and riders might be able to trigger these slabs to depths of six inches on steep, avalanche-prone slopes. In localized areas, greater amounts of new snow may have fallen, and the depth and volume of these slabs could be higher. If skies are mostly clear in the afternoon, the likelihood of triggering these slabs will increase on sunlit aspects, and the chance for shallow wet loose sluffs involving the new snow will emerge on sun affected slopes. Take note of the amount of new snow, and monitor the extent of daytime warming. The daily morning avalanche nowcasts will conclude on Sunday for the 2016-2017 winter season.

Expect a few scattered snow showers to linger overnight before a ridge of high pressure moves into the region on Saturday bringing clearing skies. Overnight lows in the mountains will be in the upper teens before rapidly climbing into the mid to upper 30s during the day. Northwesterly ridgetop winds will veer to the east at 10 to 20 miles per hour.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be LOW Saturday morning before rising to MODERATE as sunshine and warm temperatures heat up snow surfaces. On sunlit aspects at the higher elevations, the chance to trigger pockets of recently developed shallow wind slab will increase with daytime warming. The threat of shallow wet slides involving the recent snowfall will return on sun affected slopes as the day heats up. Rollerballs and pinwheels, which will be early clues to this increasing hazard, are good indicators that it is time to seek out cooler terrain. Saturday will be the final Western Wyoming Evening Forecast for the 2016-2017 winter season, and the daily morning nowcasts will conclude on Sunday.