Weak persistent snow lies within the snowpack. The chance continues for the weight of a single person to trigger slab avalanches on these buried layers at the mid and high elevations. Recent snow could also be triggered as loose snow sloughs or small soft slabs in very steep terrain. Avalanches at low elevations are unlikely except for in isolated pockets. Careful snowpack and terrain evaluation is essential today for safe backcountry travel.
Above 7,500 feet, skiers and riders could trigger persistent slab avalanches of one to three feet in depth on faceted snow that developed in November and early December.
Skies that will be partly to mostly cloudy overnight will quickly become overcast early in the morning. Light snowfall will develop and continue into the afternoon. Accumulations will favor the southwestern portion of our forecast area and are expected to range from a trace to 3 inches. Temperatures will be in the single digits and teens. Winds will be light and veer from the northwest towards the northeast.Areas of unstable snow exist in steep terrain at the mid and upper elevations. Humans can trigger large slab avalanches that are 1 to 3 feet in depth on persistent weak layers of faceted snow. Winds have mostly been light during the past two days but have been strong enough to create wind slabs especially at the higher elevations. Skiers in the Teton Range have been injured in close calls that could have been fatal. Similar events are possible on Thursday. Avalanches are unlikely at the lower elevations except on isolated terrain features. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE at the mid and upper elevations and LOW below an elevation of 7,500 feet.
