Air temperatures are about 10 degrees warmer than they were yesterday morning and will continue to increase as warm air moves into the region. A buried layer of weak faceted snow and these warming temperatures will be a concern today in steep terrain. Human triggered slab avalanches are possible. Conservative terrain choices are advised.
The potential for unstable slabs up to three feet in depth to be triggered by humans on steep slopes persists. The sensitivity of these slabs to human triggers is expected to increase as the day warms.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )The northwest flow will continue to bring periods of light snowfall to the higher elevations overnight with several inches of additional accumulation possible. Expect diminishing snowfall on Friday morning with clearing skies by the afternoon. Winds will be west to northwest at 10 to 20 miles per hour. In the mountains temperatures will warm into the 20s.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE. Humans who venture onto steep avalanche prone slopes could trigger pockets of surface slab up to 18 inches deep and may have some potential in the Continental Divide/Togwotee Pass and the Southwest Trails/Greys River areas to trigger slab avalanches up to three feet in depth that lie atop persistent layers of weak faceted snow.
