Tetons

Cold temperatures and clearing skies overnight resulted in a hard freeze causing the wet snow avalanche hazard to be low this morning. Above 9,000 feet, backcountry travelers could still find isolated pockets of wind slab 12 inches deep. The wet snow avalanche hazard will increase as warming temperatures and direct sunshine melt the snow surfaces, and wet snow avalanches will be possible on steep terrain. As surface crusts breakdown below 8,500 feet and on solar aspects above this elevation, these slides could gouge a few feet into the snowpack. At the upper elevations, wet slides will mainly involve only the new snow above the crusts. Below 7,500 feet, isolated pockets of wet snow avalanches could be found in very steep terrain. As the snowpack becomes wet and unconsolidated, avoid steep avalanche-prone terrain and terrain traps. Wet avalanche debris can be very dense making it challenging to get out of and often have severe consequences.

A Pacific trough is moving into southwest Canada. As this weak system passes it will push some moisture into our area. Skies will be mostly to partly cloudy overnight and into the morning hours. Snow showers are likely at the higher elevations. Accumulations of an inch are anticipated. Expect to see some light rain showers below 9,000 feet. Conditions will become dryer by evening. In the morning temperatures should be slightly below freezing at the higher elevations and above freezing at the lower elevations. Highs will be in the 40's and 50's. Summit winds will be from the west to southwest at 20 to 35 miles per hour. The snowpack is expected to be mostly stable during the early morning hours. Warm temperatures will soften snow surfaces and increase the wet snow avalanche hazard. Wet snow avalanches are possible on very steep terrain features during the warmest portion of the day. The general avalanche hazard will be low in the early morning hours and increase to moderate after snow surfaces become wet and unconsolidated.