Backcountry travelers could trigger newly and recently developed wind slabs. Skiers and riders could also trigger persistent slabs, which carry much higher consequences. These dangerous slabs could also fail by stepping down from the release of a wind slab. This scenario demands respect, and a conservative approach should be used for travel and terrain choices.
New snow, combined with very strong westerly ridgetop winds, continues to build dense wind slabs. Backcountry travelers are likely to trigger these slabs in steep, wind-loaded avalanche starting zones with depths of one to three feet.
Buried layers of weak snow persist at all elevations. Slabs that lie upon these weak layers could be triggered by backcountry riders and skiers today. These slabs could have depths of three to seven feet.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory tonight through 5 AM on Friday. Strong westerly ridgetop will range from 30 to 40 miles per hour, and overnight storm totals of four to eight inches are expected in the mountains. On Friday, mountain temperatures will warm into the teens as the valley climbs into the mid to upper 20s.The general avalanche hazard in the Togwotee Pass and Greys River areas is expected to remain CONSIDERABLE on Friday and could increase to CONSIDERABLE in the Tetons as strong winds and new snow combine to create new wind slabs. Backcountry travelers could easily trigger these slides, along with existing wind slabs, to depths of one to three feet in steep avalanche terrain. Failures deep within the snowpack remain a concern, particularly in the Togwotee Pass and Greys River areas.
