Recent storms brought brought over a foot of snow to the area. Strong winds yesterday that ranged from the south to the west formed wind slabs at all elevations. These slabs were sensitive to backcountry travelers yesterday and also released naturally. In the Tetons, skiers triggered a slab in Drew's slide to the south of the Jackson Hole Mountain resort and in Hoback Canyon, Cow of the Woods slide released naturally, depositing ten feet of snow on the road. Although natural activity has become unlikely, these recently formed slabs could fail to the weight of a single person in steep wind loaded areas at all elevations, particularly this afternoon when they are further weakened by sunshine and increasing temperatures. Deeper in the snowpack, older weak layers remain a concern. Slabs involving these deeper layers will be larger and could initiate as the result of a triggered surface slab or when a particularly weak spot in the snowpack is impacted. Exercise conservative decision making in steep terrain and do not allow a nice sunny day lure your group into terrain where recently formed slabs remain unstable.
Recently formed slabs lie in steep wind loaded terrain on a variety of aspects with depths to three feet above 8000 feet where they will be most sensitive, and to eighteen inches below that elevation. These slabs will increase in sensitivity as they are weakened by sunlight and warming temperatures.
The chance continues for large to very large avalanches involving old weak snow layers be triggered at the mid and upper elevations with depths to five feet.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Dry, mostly clear conditions are expected on Tuesday. Mountain temperatures are to rise from the single digits to the mid-twenties. Winds are to be light. The general avalanche hazard will be Considerable above 7500 feet and Moderate below that elevation. At higher elevations recently formed wind slabs will be sensitive to skiers or riders in steep loaded terrain to depths of three feet. These slabs will increase in sensitivity as the day warms and could step down to older persistent weak layers in the snowpack. Do not allow a calm, beautiful day lure you into terrain where these recently formed unstable slabs lie. At lower elevations pockets of instability could be found with depths to eighteen inches.
