The general avalanche hazard is Moderate above 8500 feet. Backcountry skiers or riders could trigger surface sluffs or very soft slabs to a foot in depth in very steep terrain and the remote chance also persists to trigger larger avalanches involving weaknesses that persist near the base of the snowpack. Avalanches are unlikely below 8500 feet today.
Soft slabs to 12 inches deep exist in wind loaded areas near ridge crests and cliffs. These surface slabs could be human triggered in very steep terrain today.
At the higher elevations weak snow and crusts persist near the base of the snowpack. Some potential may exist for large loads such as snow machines or groups of people to trigger deep hard slab avalanches up to four feet in depth on this buried weak layer in steep avalanche starting zones.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Light snowfall is expected to continue overnight and into Thursday before exiting on Thursday afternoon. The continued cold temperatures and light winds associated with this system are not expected increase avalanche conditions. The general avalanche hazard is to be Low in the Teton area and Moderate in the Southwest Trails and Togwotee Pass areas. In the Tetons, sluffs or isolated pockets of very soft surface slabs could be sensitive in very steep terrain near cliffs where consequences of small slides could be high. In the Togwotee Pass and Southwest areas, isolated pockets of slab could be triggered near the base of the snowpack in addition to the surface sluffs.
