New snowfall and westerly ridgetop winds have created shallow pockets of new soft slab above 7,500 feet, which could be triggered by skiers and riders in steep, wind loaded terrain. The possibility persists for backcountry travelers to trigger deeper slabs that formed during the last storm cycle. These slides could be up to three feet deep. A slight chance remains for these slabs to step down to faceted snow near the base of the snowpack above 7,500 feet. Careful snowpack and terrain evaluation followed by thoughtful decision making will be essential for safe travel in avalanche terrain today.
Recent snow and strong winds formed soft slabs during the last storm cycle. These slabs lie on a variety of snow surfaces that developed during a dry period between Christmas and January 5th. Slab depths range from one foot at lower elevations to three feet at the higher elevations. These slabs could be triggered by the weight of a single person in very steep terrain that is prone to wind loading.
Skiers and riders could trigger newly developed wind slabs four to eight inches deep in steep, wind loaded avalanche terrain above 7,500 feet. Additional accumulation and continued wind will increase the depth and the likelihood of failure as the day progresses.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Steady snowfall will continue through midnight before becoming intermittent during the day on Sunday. Overnight lows in the mountains will be in the upper teens before rising back into the low 20s in the afternoon. Southwesterly ridgetop winds will veer to the northwest at 20 to 30 miles per hour.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be Moderate on Sunday. Skiers and riders venturing into steep, wind loaded avalanche terrain could trigger newly developed soft slabs six to twelve inches deep. Some chance persists to trigger deeper slabs that formed during the last storm cycle. These slides could be up to three feet deep. Faceted snow near the base of the snowpack remains a concern in the Togwotee Pass area. In the Tetons and the Greys River area, a very slight chance persists for avalanche activity on these basal facets.
