Deep persistent slab avalanches are possible in isolated areas. A very large and destructive wet slab avalanche broke to the ground on an easterly aspect of Lava Mountain on Monday. The wet snow avalanche hazard will be low in the morning and will increase to moderate during the warmest portion of the day. Rising temperatures, a dry air mass and abundant sunshine will combine to soften snow surfaces. Wet snow slides are possible on steep sunlit aspects. Cornice failures and roof slides are possible. Monitor conditions and avoid steep terrain after snow surfaces become wet.
Deep persistent slab avalanches could be triggered with depths of three to six feet. Previous tracks do not validate stability. Beware of slopes under large cornices.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Skies will remain clear. Winds will be from the east to southeast at 5 to 20 miles per hour. Wednesday will be a few degrees warmer than today. In all areas the wet snow avalanche hazard will be low in the morning and will increase to moderate on very steep slopes during the warmest portion of the day. On Monday a very large slab avalanche released naturally on a southeast aspect of Lava Mountain. This dangerous deep slab avalanche is believed to have released from an elevation of 10,300 feet and was reported to be very wide and down to the ground. On March 4 a snowmobiler who triggered a large deep slab avalanche on a west aspect in the Breccia Cliffs area did not survive. Very large deep, persistent slab avalanches could be triggered by snowmachines or cornice drops in isolated areas in the Togwotee Pass and Greys River/Southwest Trails forecast areas. Cornice failures and glide avalanches are possible. In these areas the general avalanche hazard is moderate.
