Above 8,000 feet, recently formed wind slabs could be triggered by backcountry travels in steep, avalanche prone terrain that has experienced recent wind loading. As the day warms, any extended periods of sunshine could make these slabs more susceptible to failure on sunlit aspects. Failure of persistent weak layers deep in the snowpack might still be possible in isolate areas. Cautious route finding and careful evaluation of the snowpack will be essential for safe travel in avalanche terrain today. Below 8,000 feet, avalanches are unlikely and the chance for activity is restricted to isolated pockets in very steep terrain.
Over the last several days, ridgetop winds from the west through the northwest to northeast have redistributed snowfall and formed wind slabs on a variety of leeward aspects above 8,000 feet. Skiers and riders venturing into steep, wind-loaded terrain could trigger these slabs with depths to two feet deep.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )A weak disturbance embedded in northwesterly flow will bring another shot of light snowfall to the area starting Saturday morning. Overnight lows in the mountains will be in the mid-teens before rising into the mid-20s during the day. Skies will be mostly to partly cloudy. Westerly to southwesterly ridgetop winds will range from 15 to 25 miles per hour.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be Moderate on Saturday. In the higher elevations, skiers and riders venturing into steep, wind-loaded terrain could trigger pockets of wind slab up to two feet deep. Any extended periods of sunshine could increase the likelihood of triggering these slides on sunlit aspects as the day warms. Old, persistent weaknesses exist in the snowpack. Activity involving these layers is most likely to occur in the Togwotee Pass area where the snowpack is shallow, and the structure is poor. There, large slides could be triggered by the weight of a single person. In the Greys River forecast zone, failure of these deep layers might still be possible in isolate areas. Activity involving persistent weak layers is very unlikely in the Tetons.
