During the last few days, skiers and riders have been triggering many soft surface slabs with some very close calls. Yesterday a skier was carried and not buried by a slide in the Tetons and a snowboarder avoided being carried when he was able to dig into the bedsurface on Togwotee Pass. On Wednesday a skier was hospitalized when a slide swept him into trees. The sensitivity of these wind formed slabs has decreased and although the hazard is now rated at Moderate, the chance continues for a single person to trigger similar events. This likelihood will increase in the afternoon as warm temperatures makes them more sensitive and also provides for the possibility of wet slides.
Over the past week, wind has formed slabs that could fail on density breaks in the newer snow or upon the hard crusts that were buried last Sunday. At the mid and upper elevations backcountry travelers could trigger these slabs to depths of up to two feet in steep, avalanche-prone terrain. At the lower elevations, skiers and riders might be able to trigger similar slides with shallower depths.
Very strong southwest winds are expected overnight and through Saturday. By daylight snow is expected to begin to fall and continue to fall throughout the day. This snow will be heavy and could mix with rain in the valleys. Significant accumulation, up to a foot of snow, could occur by Saturday evening at the higher elevations.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be Low below 7500 feet and Moderate above that elevation. Although the likelihood has diminished, a chance continues to trigger surface slabs formed during the last week in steep wind loaded terrain.
