In steep avalanche terrain, riders and skiers have the potential to trigger wind slabs as well as large, dangerous hard slabs. The likelihood to trigger either of these events will increase as sunlight and warming weaken these slabs. At all elevations, small wet slides will be possible this afternoon.
Dense winds slabs up to two feet in depth could be human triggered on steep wind loaded slopes. These surface slabs could step down and trigger deep hard slabs. The likelihood of triggering these slabs will increase today.
Dangerous hard slab avalanches with depths of up to eight feet could be human triggered in areas where weak faceted snow persists deep in the snowpack. Predicting the failure of these slabs is extremely difficult as entire slopes may fail even after they have been tracked several times.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )High pressure is to continue with slightly warmer conditions expected on Thursday. A minor temperature inversion is also likely to develop. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be Moderate in the Tetons and Considerable in the Southwest Trail and Togwotee Pass areas. Recently formed wind slabs to two feet could be triggered in very steep terrain above 8000 feet and deep hard slabs that lie upon persistent weak snow layers could also be triggered with depths to eight feet. These deep instabilities are more prevalent and more likely to fail in the Togwotee Pass and Southwest Trails areas where the rating is higher. The chance to trigger avalanches will increase during the afternoon as sunlight and warming add stresses to the snowpack and weaken the surface slabs.
