New snow is falling upon slick old snow surfaces. Shallow loose snow sluffs and small pockets of new soft slab formed by west winds could be triggered by humans in steep terrain. A buried layer of surface hoar beneath the old snow surfaces is still a concern. In isolated areas, hard slab avalanches could be human triggered on this buried persistent weak layer.
Buried surface hoar persists in the snowpack six to eighteen inches below the old snow surface. In isolated areas where this buried weak layer is well preserved some potential may persist to trigger a hard slab avalanche up to 18 inches deep on this layer. These areas of instability are more likely to be found on shaded terrain that has not been tracked.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Three disturbances embedded in the westerly flow will impact our region during the next three days. The first will bring three to six inches of new snow the higher elevations of the Teton, Salt River and Wyoming Ranges overnight. This first event will taper off midday on Monday with only very light snowfall expected in the afternoon. Temperatures will warm into the teens and 20s. Winds will be westerly at 20 to 25 with gusts to 30 miles per hour along the highest ridge crests.The new snow will fall upon slick crusts, surface hoar and near-surface faceted snow. Shallow loose snow sluffs will likely release from upper elevation cliff areas. Shallow pockets of new soft slab less than a foot deep will be formed by west winds and will be sensitive to human triggers. Some hazard will remain for humans to trigger shallow persistent slabs up to a foot in depth in isolated areas. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be LOW at all elevations, however loose snow sluffs and small pockets of new soft slab could knock people over in upper elevation cliff areas.
