The original data that led to the slow mode transition (SMT) scenario for the diversion of the solar wind flow, in front of the dayside magnetoseath, are reexamined. It is shown that a number of SMT cases on the original list should be rejected because the corresponding solar wind data observed upstream from the magnetosheath display numerous density data gaps or have low time resolution inconsistent with accurate correlation study, or the SMT occurs between two successive crossings of the magnetopause. Therefore the SMT scenario is not established at a statistical level because of the limited number of well-identified cases. Temporal variations of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) are shown to play a crucial role in the origin, duration and magnetic field topology of SMTs through the introduction of multiple time shins in any correlations of magnetic field data obtained on two spacecraft whose distance in a plane perpendicular to the Sun-Earth line is more than a few of tens Earth radius. These tempora