The general avalanche hazard is MODERATE above 8,000 feet. Backcountry travelers cold trigger newly formed pockets of shallow wind slab, which will become more susceptible to failure as the day warms, particularly on sunlit aspects if there are any extended periods of sunshine. The snowpack is mostly stable below 8,000 feet and avalanches are unlikely.
Strong southwesterly to westerly ridgetop winds, along with six to ten inches of new snow over the past two days, have created wind slabs with depths of six to eighteen inches. These slabs formed on hard sliding surfaces. On steep, wind-loaded aspects above 7,500 feet, skiers and riders could trigger these slabs with depths of six to eighteen inches.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Continued snow showers are likely overnight before beginning to diminish in the early morning hours. Overnight lows in the mountains will be in the mid teens before rising to near 30 during the day. Southwesterly to westerly ridgetop winds will range from 20 to 30 miles per hour overnight before decreasing to 10 to 20 miles per hour during the day.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE on Friday. In the Tetons and Greys River area, backcountry travelers could trigger pockets of wind slab six to eighteen inches deep in steep, wind-loaded avalanche terrain. As the day warms, these slabs will become more susceptible to failure, particularly on sunlit aspects if there are any extended periods of sunshine. While unlikely, some potential may persist for deep slab avalanches to be triggered in isolated areas in the Togwotee Pass forecast zone.
