Strong winds are creating areas of drifting snow and white out conditions. At the higher elevations and along and on the east side of the Continental Divide this drifting is rapidly loading leeward aspects and creating dangerous avalanche conditions. In these areas the general avalanche hazard is considerable. The hazard is moderate on the west side of the Continental Divide below an elevation of 9,000 feet. New wind slabs are forming on crusts and wind packed snow surfaces. These slab avalanches will increase in size and sensitivity to human triggered as the day progresses. Natural avalanche activity is possible.
Strong and gusty winds easterly are building new wind slabs on steep slopes. At the higher elevations and down into the lower elevations on the east side of the divide soft slab avalanches up to two feet in depth are likely to be human triggered and could release naturally on a variety of steep slopes.
Backcountry travelers could trigger persistent deep slab avalanches on buried layers of faceted snow. These dangerous slab avalanches could be two to five feet deep. They are most likely to be triggered by a snowmachine that impacts a shallow portion of the snowpack. A cornice drop or a moving wind slab could also initiate one of these slides.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Snow will develop from north to south as a powerful storm system moves through Western Wyoming. Snow banding may create localized areas with snowfall rates of two inches per hour. Winds will increase to speeds of 35 with gusts to 50 miles per hour and veer from the southwest to the northeast. Areas of blowing and drifting snow will develop overnight and continue until skies clear on Monday evening. Temperatures will drop into the single digits in the mountains and into the teens at the lower elevations. Fresh wind slabs will develop and gain volume as the day progresses. In areas that are favored by the most intense snowfall rates these slabs could grow to depths of two feet and are likely to become sensitive to human triggers. Natural releases are possible.A deep slab avalanche was observed to have occurred on a northwest aspect of Palisades Peak in the Snake River Range yesterday morning. The last deep slab avalanche in our forecast region was observed January 19 and occurred on a northeast aspect of Mt. Taylor. This type of avalanche may still be possible in isolated locations. Those locations are likely to be in an active avalanche path and could be triggered by a snowmachine that crosses a thin area of a persistent slab or by the failure of a large cornice. At the higher elevations the new snow and strong winds may briefly increase the general avalanche hazard to considerable. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be low but increasing with respect to new snow hazards at the lower elevations.
