Pockets of wind slab could be human triggered in steep terrain and cliff areas at the upper elevations. Areas of isothermal snow are likely to be found at the lower elevations.
At the upper elevations pockets of wind slab formed by west-southwest winds exist on leeward aspects. These dense surface slabs could be human triggered in steep terrain with depths to one foot.
The next storm system is spinning off of the west coast. Moisture ahead of that system is limited; however shallow stratus clouds may produce areas of light snowfall overnight and on Thursday. Accumulations of less than an inch are possible. On Thursday skies will be partly sunny. The freezing level is anticipated to rise to an elevation of 11,000 feet. Temperatures will rise well into the 30s in the mountains and into the 40s in the valleys. Winds will continue from the west-southwest at speeds of around 20 miles per hour along the highest ridge crests.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE on Thursday. At the upper elevations small pockets of dense wind slab with depths to a foot could be human triggered in steep terrain. In isolated areas of the Togwotee Pass and Greys River forecast areas some potential may remain for humans to trigger deep hard slab avalanches on buried persistent layers of faceted snow. Warm temperatures will increase the sensitivity of these shallow surface slabs and deep hard slabs to human triggers.
