The general avalanche hazard is CONSIDERABLE. The snowpack is unstable. Skiers and riders have the potential to trigger sensitive new wind slabs formed from recent snowfall as well as older weaknesses in the snowpack. Once triggered, these slabs are likely to involve deeper layers to the ground.
Surface slabs formed by west winds lie on leeward slopes. These slabs could have depths to 18 inches, will be very sensitive and once triggered have the potential to trigger deeper instabilities in the snowpack.
The snowpack structure is poor. Recent snowfall has increased the load on persistent week layers within the snowpack. Backcountry travelers could easily trigger full depth avalanches to the ground.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Moisture embedded in the cold front will bring snow through Saturday. Four to six inches of light density snow could fall in some areas. Temperatures are to remain in the single digits and winds are to be from the west-northwest with fifteen to twenty mile per hour averages.The general avalanche hazard will be Moderate in the Tetons and Considerable in the Togwotee Pass and Southwest Trails areas. Wind formed slabs in high exposed terrain remain susceptible to human triggers on leeward slopes. In all regions and elevations persistent weaknesses are prevalent in the snowpack. Failure of these layers could occur in the middle layers of the snowpack or in many areas where the snowpack is generally shallow, failure could occur to the ground.
