Tetons

Sensitive soft surface slabs 6 to 18 inches deep formed by southwest to northwest winds lie upon slick crusts and buried surface hoar. These slabs were easily triggered by skiers yesterday, some on approach, and a large natural avalanche was observed on Mt. Hunt. Seven skiers were reported to have been caught in avalanches in the Southern Tetons yesterday. One was buried to his waist in a small slide on Mt. Taylor. Four were caught with one completely buried and recovered alive by companions south of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Another three were caught on a northerly aspect in Granite Canyon. Similar events are likely today. The load of the recent snow also presents the potential for deeper dangerous hard slabs to be human triggered on a buried weak layer of faceted snow.

Clouds and winds will be on the increase Friday night ahead of the next approaching storm system. Snow is expected during the period of Saturday morning till midnight. About 3 to 6 inches of new snow is expected in the mountains with 1 to 3 inches in the valleys. Mountain temperatures will remain in the single digits. Winds will be west to south-westerly at 40 to 50 with gusts to near 70 miles per hour. With new snow and strong winds in the forecast the general avalanche hazard is expected to increase to CONSIDERABLE. DANGEROUS CONDITIONS EXIST. Surface slabs up to two feet in depth will be easily triggered on steep wind loaded aspects and deep slab instabilities persist especially in the Continental Divide/Togwotee Pass and Greys River/Southwest Trails areas. New snow and wind will combine to load an unstable snowpack. Deep dangerous slab avalanches to the ground are possible.