Unstable slabs lie in steep avalanche terrain. The likelihood of triggering these slabs is slowly decreasing. The chance for natural avalanches is unlikely and the chance for triggering slides remotely has lessened. Make no mistake that this reduction in the rating should not be interpreted as a green light to get on steeper terrain, slabs could still fail to the weight of a single person. These slabs could involve recent snow formed by wind or involve deeper layers in the snowpack. They could be large to very large and result in severe consequences. Avoid steep terrain, watch out for areas of wind loading and evaluate the snowpack to determine the presence and strength of old weak layers.
Surface slabs formed by southwest winds during the most recent storm cycle continue to be a hazard on steep wind-loaded slopes. These slabs could be triggered by skiers and riders, could be soft or hard and have depths of one to three feet. Today's sunshine may increase the sensitivity of these slabs to human triggers.
Some potential remains for persistent slabs to fail on old faceted snow layers on steep avalanche prone slopes. These slabs could possibly fail if a person hits a particularly weak spot on a slope or following the initiation of a wind slab. These large to very large slab avalanches could be 3 to 5 feet deep hard slabs at the mid and upper elevations or one to three foot soft slabs at the lower elevations. Yesterday, the Jackson Hole Ski Patrol initiated large and destructive avalanches on the North Ridge, a permanently closed area above Tensleep Bowl. Of the three distinct slides, two were triggered by large explosives and one was triggered by an airblast.
Flow will become more westerly overnight and although there is more moisture in this pattern, accumulations by morning will be minimal. Light snow is to continue throughout the day Wednesday and Wednesday night. Temperatures in the mountains are to again start below freezing and rise to the single digits. West winds are to have averages between ten and twenty miles per hour. The general avalanche hazard will be Moderate at all elevations of the Tetons and Considerablein the Togwotee Pass and Southwest trails areas above 7500 feet . Human triggered avalanches could occur in all three forecast regions that involve wind slabs formed during the last storm cycle or deeper instabilities within the snowpack . These slabs are more sensitive in the Southwest Trails and Togwotee pass areas where they are underlain by a weaker snowpack. Respect the snowpack and realize that although conditions are less reactive, unstable slabs await triggers such as skiers or riders in steep terrain and that a cycle with significant natural avalanche activity ended just a few days ago.
