Tetons

Strong winds and another round of snowfall will continue to load lee slopes in avalanche terrain today. The slabs will be largest and most sensitive at high elevations with slab depths up to four feet possible. At mid and low elevations backcountry travellers could trigger pockets to two feet in depth in steep terrain. At all elevations slabs will become larger and more sensitive throughout the day.

Widespread light to moderate snowfall will continue through the night and into Friday morning. Heavy snowfall is expected in the Teton and Gros Ventre Ranges Thursday evening and will shift into the Salt River and Wyoming Ranges around midnight. Winds accompanying this storm system will generally be west with gust to 50 miles per hour. New snow accumulations through Friday morning are expected to range from 8 to 13 inches in the mountains and 3 to 7 inches in the valleys. The snowfall will taper to snow showers by Friday afternoon. Mountain temperatures will remain in the single digits. With heavy snowfall and strong winds in the forecast the general avalanche hazard is expected to increase to HIGH. Surface slabs up to three feet in depth are likely to be easily triggered by humans on steep avalanche prone slopes and could release spontaneously. Dangerous deep hard slabs are possible in areas with a persistant weak base layer of faceted snow.