Above 7500 feet, dangerous avalanche conditions exist on all aspects. Human triggered avalanches are likely today in a snowpack with instabilities both near the surface and deeply buried in the snowpack. Conservative decision making is essential. Yesterday two snowmobilers were buried to their necks in Horseshoe Bowl near Teton Pass. It took them several hours to self rescue and one person sustained serious injuries. Similar events are likely today. Below 7500 feet pockets of surface slab could be triggered in steep wind loaded terrain.
Snow has been consistently falling since December 8th. This snow lies upon very weak faceted snow and crusts and is unstable. Deep hard slab avalanches could be triggered by the weight of a single person. If triggered, these slabs could have depths to four feet and are likely to carry serious consequences.
Winds slabs formed during the past few days from new snow and primarily southwest winds lie in the backcountry. These slabs could be triggered with depths to eighteen inches.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Some snow is expected overnight before tapering off on Christmas. Highs are to be in the low teens and southwest to west winds are to be light.The avalanche hazard is expected to be Considerable. Surface slabs to two foot depths could be triggered in steep terrain. Larger, dangerous slabs that could occur due to failure deeper in the snowpack remain possible to likely depending on location. These slabs could have depths to five feet in the Tetons and to two feet in the Togwotee Pass and Southwest trails areas.
