Conditions are dangerous, especially in terrain higher than 9,000 feet. Yesterday a party of three skiers was caught and partially buried by a deep slab avalanche on a north aspect of Breccia Peak. Fortunately nobody was injured. A skier died in an avalanche on Henderson Mountain near Cooke City, Montana yesterday. Two snowboarders were buried but not injured two days ago on Teton Pass. Deep slab avalanches were also triggered yesterday in a gully on Two Ocean Peak and on a steep slope south of the highway. Large human triggered slab avalanches are likely on steep avalanche prone slopes above an elevation of 9,000 feet and possible at the lower elevations. Strong westerly winds continue to load leeward aspects and therefor natural avalanche activity is also a threat. Expert avalanche hazard assessment and route finding skills are essential for safe travel in avalanche terrain today.
Wind slabs formed by southwest to west-northwest winds could be human triggered with depths to two feet on a variety of aspects. Gusty winds will continue to load avalanche starting zones and could cause these wind slabs to release naturally.
Deep persistent slabs, which lie upon a faceted snow/rain crust combination in terrain that held snow from early October continue to be a serious threat. Surviving one of these slides is unlikely. These dangerous slides could be triggered by the weight of a person or release naturally with depths to four feet.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Western Wyoming will experience periods of moderate snowfall and increasing southwest winds overnight and into the day. This snowfall will become lighter in the evening. Temperatures will be in the single digits in the mountains overnight and rise into the teens during the day. Valley temperatures will drop into the teens and then rise into the 20s.Strong winds continue to load leeward slopes and avalanche starting zones. Surface slabs up to three feet in depth formed by southwest to west-northwest winds could be human triggered on steep avalanche prone slopes. At the upper elevations persistent deep slabs three to six feet in depth could be triggered by the weight of a skier or riders on steep east through north to west facing slopes. Natural releases of these winds slabs and persistent deep slabs remain a possibility. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be CONSIDERABLE at the higher elevations and MODERATE at the lower elevations.
