Avalanche conditions are dangerous at the mid and upper elevations. Skiers and riders could easily trigger small to large wind slabs in steep, wind loaded terrain. Temperatures are starting out cold, but the days are getting longer and the sun angle is getting higher. If skies are mostly sunny throughout the day, snow surfaces could become wet, particularly at the lower elevations. On sunlit aspects, this scenario could increase the likelihood of triggering wind slabs and bring about the possibility of small wet slides lower down. While the chance for triggering persistent deep slab avalanches is decreasing, involvement in one of these large to very large slabs will almost certainly result in another fatality. Continue to make conservative terrain choices, monitor temperatures and the impact of the sun, and transition to shaded terrain if snow surfaces start to become damp.
Since late Thursday night, the Tetons have received between 1 and 2 feet of new snow. Southwesterly to westerly ridgetop winds at 15 to 30 miles per hour accompanied this snowfall, and wind slabs formed in leeward terrain. On steep, wind loaded slopes above 7,500 feet, backcountry travelers are likely to trigger these slabs with depths ranging from 1 to 4 feet.
While persistent weak layers deeply buried in the snowpack are appearing to become dormant, skiers and riders still have some potential to trigger persistent deep slab avalanches failing on these weak layers. These deadly slabs could also step down from the release of a wind slab. Slab depths are likely to range between 4 and 8 feet above 7,500 feet and 2 to 4 feet below 7,500 feet.
A ridge of high pressure will begin to move into the region overnight and bring mostly clear skies on Monday. Overnight lows in the mountains will be in the low single digits before rising into the mid-twenties in the afternoon. Northwesterly ridgetop winds will back to the southwest at 10 to 15 miles per hour.Dangerous avalanche conditions will continue, and the general avalanche hazard is expected to remain Considerable on Monday. Skiers and riders have the potential to trigger small to large wind slabs in steep, wind loaded terrain. As the day warms, these slides will become more susceptible to failure on sunlit aspects, and the chance for wet slides will likely develop. Large to very large persistent deep slab avalanches will remain a serious concern, especially in the Togwotee Pass and Southwest Trails forecast zones. Daily warming will also increase the likelihood of triggering these deadly avalanches on solar aspects. Continue to make conservative terrain choices, monitor temperatures and the impact of the sun, and transition to shaded terrain when snow surfaces start to become damp.
