Tetons

At mid and high elevations, new and recently fallen snow combined with strong southeast to west winds have formed surface slabs to forty inches in depth on leeward slopes. In steep terrain, it is likely for backcountry riders and skiers to trigger these slabs and the chance exists for them to release naturally. The potential also continiues for deeper hard slabs to fail on weak snow at the base of the snowpack. A large natural hard slab avalanche recently occurred on the north aspect of Mt Oliver. At low elevations pockets of soft slab to two feet in depth could be triggered in steep terrain.

Heavy snowfall will taper off Saturday evening with overnight accumulations of another three to six inches. Lighter snow is forecasted for Sunday with one to three more inches. Ridge top winds will be northwesterly at thirty miles per hour and mountain temperatures will be in the mid teens with the lower elevations reaching the twenties. The general avalanche hazard in the Tetons is expected to be HIGH Sunday. Continued snowfall will add to the existing, unsettled deep new snow. Natural or human triggered slabs or sloughs on most aspects have the potential to entrain huge amounts of snow and develop into large, dangerous avalanches that could travel full track. There also is an increasing load on deeper, unstable hard-slabs that could pull out the entire depth of the snowpack. Steep areas like road cuts and ravines should be avoided at all elevations. During HIGH hazard travel in or below avalanche terrain is not recommended.In the Greys River area nearly a foot of new snow has been driven by 30 to 40 mile per hour westerly winds and created easily triggered soft slabs to three feet in depth on lee slopes. The new snow will also increase the potential for releasing older, deep hard-slabs that could involve the full snowpack. The hazard there is expected to be CONSIDERABLE.In the Togwotee Pass area the hazard is expected to remain MODERATE.