Tetons

Dangerous unstable slabs one to three in depth lie upon a persistent weak layer. As the day warms the potential for these slabs to release naturally or be triggered by humans on steep avalanche prone slopes will increase. Instabilities associated with a dense slab on faceted snow are not only persistent but hard to assess and manage. Steep slopes could be crossed multiple times before a rider or skier crosses a sweet spot and triggers a slab avalanche. When these conditions exist most fatalities occur during periods of moderate or considerable hazard. These conditions require respect and a conservative approach as consequences could be severe.

A weakening disturbance is forecast to move southeast across the area Thursday Night and Friday. On Thursday clouds will be on the increase with a chance of some light snow or flurries developing at the higher elevations by evening. Temperatures will rise into the 30s. Westerly winds will increase ahead of this system to speeds of 25 with gusts to 40 miles per hour along the higher ridge crests in the afternoon. The snowpack remains unstable and dangerous on steep avalanche prone slopes. Humans who venture into avalanche paths that have not experienced recent avalanche activity could trigger dense slab avalanches up to three feet deep. With this type of avalanche hazard it is difficult to assess which slopes will fail and which will not and the consequences of a wrong assessment are severe. Suspect slopes can be crossed multiple times before a rider or skier hits a weak spot and triggers a killer avalanche. These conditions require respect and a conservative approach. On Thursday the general avalanche hazard is expected to be CONSIDERABLE at the mid and higher elevations and MODERATE at the lower elevations.