Backcountry travelers venturing into very steep, avalanche prone terrain could trigger persistent slabs with depths up to three feet. In areas that received significant amounts of snowfall yesterday, the chance for skiers and riders to trigger pockets of newly developed windslab will increase as the day warms. If mostly clear skies persist through the morning, wet loose sluffing involving the new snow will be possible on steep sunlit slopes. Avalanches below 7500 feet are unlikely.
Persistent slabs up to three feet deep lie upon weak faceted snow near the base of the snowpack. On some very steep slopes, these slabs could be triggered by riders or skiers even after a slope has been crossed multiple times.
Isolated pockets of wind slab five to fifteen inches deep have formed on slick surfaces, which include sun crusts and surface hoar. The chance for backcountry travelers to trigger these slabs in steep, wind loaded terrain will increase as temperatures rise, particularly on sunlit aspects if skies remain mostly clear into the afternoon.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Expect partly to mostly cloudy skies on Tuesday ahead of a weaker system slated to move into the area Tuesday afternoon, which will bring increased cloud cover and scattered snow showers. Overnight lows in the mountains will be in the low to mid teens before rising into the mid to upper 20s during the day. Westerly ridgetop winds will range from 15 to 25 miles per hour.The General Avalanche Hazard is expected to be LOW in the Tetons on Tuesday. Backcountry travelers venturing into very steep, wind loaded terrain could trigger isolated pockets of wind slab four to eight inches deep. On sunlit slopes, any extended periods of sunshine will make these slides more susceptible to failure and bring about the possibility for sluffing of the new snow. In the Togwotee Pass and Greys River areas, persistent slabs up to three feet deep still pose a threat to skiers and riders in very steep, avalanche prone terrain. There, the General Avalanche Hazard will remain MODERATE.
