The chance continues to trigger small pockets of wind blown snow at the high elevations in steep leeward terrain. These conditions do not pose a threat of large avalanches however small slides can still carry severe consequences where they can push someone off a cliff ledge or carry them into trees or other obstacles. Safe travel protocols such as one person descending at a time should be followed. At the mid and low elevations avalanches are unlikely in the mostly stable snowpack.
At the upper elevations small pockets of wind slab up to a foot in depth could be triggered in steep wind loaded avalanche stating zones, cliff areas and extreme terrain. These slabs were formed by southwest to north-northwest winds.
Another day of high pressure with sunny skies and a few high clouds is in store for Saturday. Temperatures should continue on their warming trend with mountain temperatures to reach into the mid to upper thirties while summits reach the low thirties.In the Southwest trails and Teton forecast areas the general avalanche hazard will be Low in the morning and increase to Moderate in the afternoon. Existing surface slabs formed by wind earlier in the week could have depths to one foot and become more sensitive as the day warms. The possibility for wet slides will also develop in the afternoon as heat penetrates more deeply into the snowpack. Similar conditions exist in the Togwotee pass area, however deeper weaknesses in the snowpack warrant the hazard to be Moderate throughout the day as a remote chance persists for large triggers to initiate large avalanches in isolated areas of north facing terrain.
