Above 8,500 feet, backcountry travelers might be able to trigger recently developed wind slabs in cliff areas and very steep terrain that have experienced recent wind loading. As the day warms, extended periods of sunshine could make these slabs more susceptible to failure in sunlit areas that warm quickly and collect heat. As surface crusts breakdown at the lower elevations, shallow wet slides could become possible in the isothermal snowpack. Monitor how the weather is affecting the snow surfaces, and avoid areas with obvious signs of wind loading.
Earlier in the week, very strong southwesterly to westerly ridgetop winds combined with new snow to create dense wind slabs in leeward terrain. This snowfall came in warm and ended cool, which created a right-side-up snowfall event. Skiers and riders venturing into very steep, avalanche-prone terrain might be able trigger a pocket of slab six to 18 inches deep.
Moisture in a fast westerly flow will bring periods of light snowfall and convective snow showers to the higher elevation during the day. New snow accumulations of two to five inches are possible in the mountains between sunrise and sunset. Temperatures will be in the 20s. Winds will increase to 15 to 25 miles per hour with higher gusts and will veer to the northwest as this system quickly moves over the region. The new snow and wind will begin to form isolated pockets of new soft slab in steep upper elevation avalanche starting zones and cliff areas. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be LOW in the Teton and Greys River areas and MODERATE in the Togowtee Pass area where some deep instability may persist in steep upper elevation avalanche paths that face north trough east to south. The hazard will increase during the day if sustained rapid loading occurs.
