Varying winds have formed soft to hard slabs surface slabs that could be triggered in steep avalanche starting zones by backcountry skiers and riders, particularly at the high elevations where the strongest winds occurred. The potential also persists at the high elevations to trigger older hard slabs that lie upon hard crusts that formed in early December.
Winds that veered from the southwest to the northeast have transported recent snow into surface slabs on a variety of aspects and at all elevations. These slabs will be most prevalent and sensitive at the high elevations where they could have depths to eighteen inches and they will become smaller and less sensitive at lower elevations.
At the upper elevations, faceted snow lies upon wind pack and sun crusts formed during the early December dry period. The potential exists for backcountry riders and skiers to trigger persistent slabs up to an additional three feet.
Saturday looks to be mostly dry through the daylight hours in advance of another system that is to impact the area Saturday night. Temperatures will be similar to today with highs near ten degrees at 9000 feet. Cloud cover will increase and winds will back to the west then southwest with fifteen to twenty five mile per hour averages. The general avalanche hazard will be Moderate above 8500 feet and Low below that elevation. Recently formed wind slabs to one foot depth could be triggered in steep wind loaded terrain. A chance also persists to trigger older weaknesses above 9000 feet on North facing slopes in the Togwotee pass areas and on southerly slopes in the Teton Area and the Southwest Trails areas.
