Warmer air is beginning to move in aloft. Temperatures at 10,500 feet at 5 AM this morning are 10 to 15 degrees warmer than they were at the same time yesterday morning. Human triggered avalanches continue to be a hazard in steep terrain. Surface slabs could be human triggered in steep terrain features that have not already slide. Deep, large slab avalanches continue to be a hazard in steep north facing terrain at the upper elevations. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully and identify features of concern.
Snowmobilers or skiers who venture into steep wind loaded avalanche starting zones, large bowls, chutes and steep avalanche prone terrain features could trigger slab avalanches. These surface slabs could be up to three feet deep at the higher elevations and up to two feet deep at the lower elevations. These slabs may be more sensitive to human triggers during the warmer portion of the day.
The chance persist for backcountry travelers to trigger large, destructive deep slab avalanches that could involve the full depth of the snowpack. The weak snow associated with this problem is deeply buried near the base of the snowpack on northwest through northeast aspects above 9000 feet. These deep slab avalanches are likely to be unsurvivable.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Conditions will remain mostly unchanged. Similar temperatures will occur. Skies will be mostly clear. Winds will back towards the west.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE. Surface slabs up to two feet deep could be human triggered in steep avalanche starting zones, steep couloirs and cliff areas. Deep persistent slabs are still a potential hazard with severe consequences at the upper elevations in the Greys River and Togwotee Pass areas.
