The avalanche danger is Moderate at the mid and upper elevations today. Over the past week up to 40” of snow has fallen. The snowpack is still adjusting to this new load. The likelihood of triggering a wind slab is slowly reducing. Natural wind slab avalanches will be unlikely, but it will still be possible to trigger a large slide on steep, wind loaded slopes. Slabs may exist on multiple aspects due to shifting winds during the last storm. Watch for signs of instability like shooting cracks and collapsing in loaded snow. With cloudy skies and snow showers today, visibility will be reduced, and signs of instability may be hard to observe. Practice safe travel by moving one at a time and ensure safe zones are truly safe. Below 7,500 feet avalanches are unlikely.
Wind slabs may have formed up to three feet thick. Loaded slopes near ridge tops and cross loaded terrain features may be identified by their smooth, rounded appearance. Hollow sounding snow, and shooting cracks are indicators a slab is present. Carefully evaluate wind loaded terrain before committing to a slope.
Loose dry avalanches will be possible in very steep sheltered terrain above 9,000 feet. These slides could entrain large amounts of snow if on large unsupported slopes. Consider possible terrain traps below, as they can amplify the danger of these avalanches.
Snow showers will start back up this evening with 2-4” possible before morning in all forecast areas. Tomorrow will be mostly cloudy with temperatures rising into the mid to high twenties near 9,000 feet. Winds will veer from the south southwest to the west and average in the low twenties. With new snow and moderate winds overnight, the avalanche danger will remain steady. Wind transported snow may form small pockets of fresh wind slab on leeward aspects. Overall, the snowpack is slowly stabilizing. Triggering an old wind slab is becoming less likely but it remains possible on steep wind loaded slopes above 9,000 feet. It will take continuous days of mild temperatures and no new load for these slabs to be taken off the table. The warming effects from today will make loose dry avalanches unlikely tomorrow except in high, cold, sheltered pockets. Tomorrow the avalanche danger will be Moderate above 7,500 feet in the Tetons and above 8,000 feet in the Togwotee Pass and Southwest Trails areas. Below those elevation bands the danger will be Low.
