Above 7,500 feet, backcountry travelers might be able trigger isolated pockets of surface slab on very steep, wind-loaded slopes. Some potential may remain for skiers and riders to trigger deep hard slab avalanches in isolated areas. Multiple snowmobiles on the same slope is the most likely scenario to encounter these dangerous slabs.
Weak, faceted snow persists near the base of the snowpack in isolated areas. Skiers and riders could trigger dangerous slabs to depths in excess of six feet failing on this persistent weak layer. Previous tracks on a slope are not an indication of stability. If a member of your party gets stuck on a suspect slope, refrain from adding additional weight to the snowpack by helping them get unstuck.
Pockets of surface slab up to eighteen inches in depth might be triggered by backcountry travelers venturing onto very steep slopes and into cliff areas. Abundant sunshine and little wind may make these slabs more susceptible to failure on sunlit aspects in the afternoon. These slabs have the potential to step down and trigger dangerous deep slab avalanches in areas with poor snowpack structure.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Cloud cover will increase tonight as a cold front moves through, which will bring a slight chance for isolated snow showers. After frontal passage, cloud cover will decrease and westerly ridgetop winds will back off to 5 to 15 miles per hour by Friday morning. Overnight lows in the mountains will be near 10 before rising into the low 20s during the day.The general avalanche hazard in the Tetons is expected to be LOW on Friday. In very steep terrain at the mid and upper elevations, backcountry travelers might be able to trigger isolated pockets of wind slab six to eighteen inches in depth. In the Togwotee Pass and Greys River forecast zones, the general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE. There, similar isolated pockets of wind slab exist. In isolated areas, some potential may remain for skiers and riders to trigger hard slab avalanches failing on faceted snow deep within the snowpack. Multiple snowmobiles on the same slope are the most likely scenario to trigger these dangerous slabs, which could have depths in excess of six feet.
