The snowpack is mostly stable, however a layer of surface hoar buried in mid January continues to be a persistent weak layer at the mid and upper elevations. Skiers in the Northern Teton Range triggered a hard slab avalanche on this layer last Thursday. This event occurred on a northeast aspect at an elevation of 8,600 feet. Avalanches are not expected today below an elevation of 8,000 feet.
Buried surface hoar lies in the snowpack six to eighteen inches below the snow surface. In isolated areas, particularly in colder, wind protected terrain that has not been tracked, skiers and riders might still be able to trigger hard slab avalanches on this weak layer. These slabs will be more sensitive to human triggers as they are weakened by warming conditions.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Sunday looks to be mostly dry as clouds increase in advance of a weather system that should bring snow to the area Sunday night. Temperatures should again be cool with mountain highs in the low twenties while northwest winds have averages between fifteen and twenty five miles per hour. The general avalanche hazard will remain Low in western Wyoming with a continued chance to trigger slabs in isolated areas where surface hoar that was buried in mid January still persists. These isolated areas of weakness are most likely to be found in shaded cold terrain above 8000 feet.
