Significant snowfall earlier in the week was accompanied by strong winds that varied greatly in direction. These varying winds created soft slabs on a variety of aspects above 8000 feet. Loose snow sloughs are also possible today in higher elevation terrain. Identify surface conditions and terrain carefully in order to avoid these avalanche concerns. Normal caution is advised at the lower elevations where avalanche activity is unlikely except for in isolated pockets in very steep terrain.
Soft slab avalanches could be human triggered on a variety of aspects at the mid and high elevations. These slabs could have depths between six inches and two feet.
Skies are to continue to clear overnight. Valley fog or low clouds are likely to develop in the morning over the Jackson Hole and Star valleys. Although clearer skies are expected, weak north flow will continue to supple some clouds and a chance for light snow to fall in isolated areas. Mountain highs are to be in the upper teens and northwest winds are to average ten to fifteen miles per hour. The general avalanche hazard will be Moderate in all forecast areas above 8000 feet and Low below that elevation. Wind slabs can still be triggered on a variety of aspects with depths up to two feet. Weak snow layers lie at the base of the snowpack on northerly aspects above 9000 feet. This weak layer and the chance to trigger full depth avalanches demands the most attention in the shallower snowpack in the Togwotee Pass area. In the Southwest Trails area, its chance of occurrence is limited to isolated areas and in the Tetons, deep slabs are not considered a current concern.
