At the higher elevations some potential remains for humans to trigger dense wind slabs that were formed by west to southwest winds during the most recent storm cycle. Cornices are huge. Overhanging portions could be human triggered by the weight of a person and could trigger slab avalanches on the underlying slopes. Avalanches are unlikely below an elevation of 8,500 feet.
At the higher elevations skiers and riders who venture into steep, wind loaded terrain features that avalanche frequently could trigger dense slab avalanches. These slabs could be one to three feet deep and are expected to be more sensitive to larger triggers like snowmobiles and cornice drops.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )A northwest flow will bring variable clouds and a chance of scattered snow showers to the mountains. Those showers will be most numerous over the northern portion of our forecast region and Yellowstone National Park. Temperatures will drop into the teens and 20s overnight and rise into the 30s in the mountains and into the 40s in the valleys during the day. West to west-northwest winds will decrease to 15 to 20 with gusts to 30 miles per hour. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE above an elevation of 8,500 feet and be LOW below that elevation. At the higher elevations there remains a chance for skiers and riders to trigger large dense slab avalanches in steep, wind loaded avalanche prone terrain features. These dense slab avalanches could be one to four feet deep and are expected to be more sensitive to larger triggers like snowmobiles and cornice failures. Cornices are huge and could break due to the weight of a single person.
