Four days of strong west to southwest winds have created dense wind slabs on leeward slopes. These slabs could be human triggered, especially in steep wind loaded avalanche starting zones where they lie upon slick old snow surfaces. These slabs and the dense snow that fell during the past several days have also increased the load on persistent slabs that lie upon buried layers of faceted snow. These dangerous persistent slabs could be human triggered in steep active avalanche paths. Warm temperatures will be increasing the hazard at all elevations today and could cause some wet slides in steep terrain at the lower elevations.
The recent dense snow has increased the load on older persistent slabs that lie upon buried layers of weak snow. These dangerous slabs exist on north through east to south facing slopes at the higher elevations. Skiers and riders could trigger these slabs with depths to three feet.
Pockets of new dense wind slabs up to 18 inches in depth could be human triggered is steep wind loaded avalanche starting zones and cliff areas.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Generally dry and warm conditions are expected on Wednesday. Skies are anticipated to be partly cloudy. Temperatures will drop into the 20s overnight and rise into the upper 30s during the day. Winds will relax to around 15 miles per hour with gusts to 30 and back towards the south-southwest.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE in the Togwotee Pass/Continental Divide, Southwest Trails/Greys River areas the higher elevations of the Teton area. Dense surface slabs one to two feet in depth could be human triggered in all of these areas. These slabs are likely to be deeper and larger in the Greys River area where more snow accumulated during the past several days. In the Togwotee Pass area, older persistent slabs one to three feet in depth, could also be triggered by humans at the higher elevations in active avalanche paths that face north through east to south. Warm afternoon temperatures will increase the hazard in all areas and create the potential for wet slide activity on steep sunlit slopes at the lower elevations.
