Tetons

At the mid and upper elevations snow that has fallen during the past several days is accumulating on faceted snow above a hard crust. Small pockets of surface slab formed by westerly winds could be triggered by skiers or riders in steep terrain. These shallow slabs could be up to a foot in depth and pose a hazard above terrain traps, cliffs and in very steep chutes and couloirs. Monitor conditions and be aware of this avalanche hazard in steep avalanche prone terrain.

Temperatures will remain mild overnight and into the morning hours. Snow is expected to develop by morning with 4 to 8 inches possible by Thursday morning. The passage of a strong cold front will send temperatures plunging towards the single digits during the evening hours. Winds will veer to the west and then the north. New snow and winds will create unstable conditions in steep terrain at the mid and upper elevations. New soft slabs are expected to form and be sensitive to human triggers. Depending on the intensity and duration of Wednesday’s snowfall, slab depths could grow to 12 to 18 inches in upper elevations avalanche starting zones. Monitor conditions for obvious signs of instability like shooting cracks, whumps and avalanche activity. The general avalanche could quickly rise to MODERATE, especially at the higher elevations.