Close calls occurred during the past two days on Togwotee and Teton Pass when skiers or snowboarders were partially buried but not injured. A skier died in an avalanche yesterday afternoon near Cooke City, Montana. Wind slab avalanches could be human triggered on a variety of aspects. Deep persistent slabs with depths to five feet could be triggered at the upper elevations (above an elevation of 9,000 feet). Strong westerly winds continue to load leeward aspects and therefor natural avalanche activity continues to be a possibility. Expert avalanche hazard assessment and route finding skills are essential for safe travel in avalanche terrain today.
Wind slabs formed by southwest to west-northwest winds could be human triggered with depths from one to three feet on a variety of aspects. Gusty winds will continue to load avalanche starting zones and could cause these wind slabs to release naturally.
Deep persistent slabs, which lie upon a faceted snow/rain crust combination in terrain that held snow from early October continue to be a serious threat. Surviving one of these slides is unlikely. These very dangerous slides could be triggered by the weight of a person or release naturally with depths to five feet.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Western Wyoming will experience periods of moderate snowfall and increasing southwest winds overnight and into the day. This snowfall will become lighter in the evening. Temperatures will be in the single digits in the mountains overnight and rise into the teens during the day. Valley temperatures will drop into the teens and then rise into the 20s.Strong winds continue to load leeward slopes and avalanche starting zones. Surface slabs up to three feet in depth formed by southwest to west-northwest winds could be human triggered on steep avalanche prone slopes. At the upper elevations persistent deep slabs three to six feet in depth could be triggered by the weight of a skier or riders on steep east through north to west facing slopes. Natural releases of these winds slabs and persistent deep slabs remain a possibility. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be CONSIDERABLE at the higher elevations and MODERATE at the lower elevations.
