The rating has dropped from High to Considerable simply because the current cold weather is less likely to cause large natural avalanche activity. Make no mistake, very dangerous avalanche conditions continue to exist and backcountry skiers or riders could easily trigger large avalanches. A strong winter storm this week deposited four feet of snow and over six inches of moisture in the mountains. This snowfall and strong winds have formed soft wind slabs at all elevations. These slabs could be easily triggered and a potential for deep slab avalanches also continues. Yesterday, a skier was caught, carried and injured after triggering a slide that carried him through trees in steep terrain. The slide occurred in No Name Canyon to the south of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Teton County Search and Rescue rescued the skier using short haul techniques. Similar events could occur today. Do not allow sunny skies to affect behavior. Conservative decision making is essential today.
Strong southwest to west winds during recent heavy snowfall have formed dense surface slabs on leeward aspects. These slabs lie upon faceted snow during last weeks cold period. These slabs will be most sensitive at the higher elevations where slab depths could reach five feet at higher elevations and three feet at lower elevations.
A chance continues for larger triggers such as snow machines to initiate very large and destructive deep slab avalanches that could involve the full depth of the snowpack.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )High pressure will dominate on Friday. Below zero temperatures are expected in the morning with slight inversion conditions. Highs are to be in the teens. Winds will be light. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable. The possibility for humans to easily trigger soft to hard surface slabs will continue. These slabs could have depths ranging from six inches to several feet and could occur at all elevations and most aspects. Although less likely, deep slab avalanches could also be triggered in high terrain on northerly aspects by larger loads such as snow machines or by the initiation of a surface slab.
