At the mid and upper elevations wind slabs formed by northwest winds could be triggered by humans who venture into very steep terrain and cliff areas. Abundant sunshine and warm temperatures will combine to increase the sensitivity of these slabs to human triggers and therefor increase the hazard during the warmest portion of the day. Avalanches are unlikely at the lower elevations.
Small to medium sized wind slab avalanches with depths of one to two feet could be human triggered today. The potential for skiers and riders to trigger these slabs will increase as temperatures rise.
A Pacific trough and associated cold front will advance across Idaho and into our area. Clouds will increase rapidly on Monday with light snow becoming widespread during the morning and increasing in intensity in the afternoon. This precipitation may begin as a mix of rain and snow at the lower elevations. The snowfall will be accompanied by west winds with speeds of 25 to 35 and gust over 50 miles per hour. Temperatures will be in the 20s in the mountains and in the low to mid 30s in the valleys.As the day progresses strong west winds and new snow will begin to create unstable wind slabs and increase the avalanche hazard at the mid and upper elevations. In the Togwotee Pass/Continental Divide and Greys River/Southwest Trails areas some potential may remain for humans to trigger deep hard slab avalanches in isolated areas. Larger triggers such as snowmobiles or multiple snowmobiles on the same slope are more likely to trigger these dangerous slabs which could have depths in excess of six feet. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE.
