The avalanche hazard will be increasing today especially at the higher elevations. Light density snow that has fallen during the past 24 hours will be easily drifted onto leeward slopes by today's gusty winds. Increasing temperatures will be creating upside down conditions within the newly fallen and drifted snow. At the upper elevations shallow new soft slabs will begin to form and are likely to be easily triggered in steep avalanche starting zones. Additional loading will be occurring on persistent slabs and will increase their susceptibility to human triggers as the day progresses.
Pockets of new soft slab formed by northwest winds will gain depth and volume and could build to depths of 12 to 18 inches at the mid and upper elevations in the afternoon. These fresh slabs are likely to be easily triggered by skiers and riders in steep wind loaded avalanche starting zones.
Persistent slabs one to three feet deep lie upon weak, faceted snow and hard snow surfaces which formed during the January dry period. These slabs could be human triggered today on steep avalanche prone slopes
A moist northwest flow will continue to bring periods of snow and strong winds to the area. Four to eight inches of new snow are possible overnight. Light snowfall is likely to continue in the mountains on Thursday with an additional three inches of accumulation possible. Winds will be westerly overnight at 25 to 35 miles per hour and will veer to the northwest and decrease to 18 miles per hour in the morning. Temperatures will be in the single digits and the teens in the mountains and in the teens and 20s in the valleys.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be CONSIDERABLE at the higher elevations of the Teton and the Southwest Trails/Greys River areas and MODERATE in the Continental Divide/Togwotee Pass area and the mid elevations of the Teton area and the lower elevations of the Southwest Trails/Greys River areas. Persistent slabs one to four feet in depth could be human triggered on steep slopes and have potential to release naturally in some areas.
