Tetons

Mountain temperatures are starting out around 15 degrees warmer than 5 AM yesterday. The snowpack is mostly stable this morning. As the day warms, very shallow wet loose sluffs involving the recent snowfall above the crusts are likely to develop at the mid and upper elevations. If sufficient heat and sunshine occur to break down the stout crusts underneath the newest snowfall, the chance for deeper wet slides might reemerge. Take note of how quickly temperatures rise and how the sun affects the top of the snowpack. If the near surface crusts start to become unsupportable, transition to cooler terrain. Most areas at the lower elevations have insufficient snow depths to produce avalanche activity.

An upper level disturbance and cold front will swing through the area late tonight and into Monday. The track of this fast moving storm will favor the Teton Range, Yellowstone National Park and the Togwotee Pass area. Precipitation will begin in the early morning hours. Snow levels will initially start out around 8,500 feet and will descend to the valley level during the day. Temperatures on the summits will drop to around 30 degrees by daybreak and drop into the lower 20s by evening. Southwest winds will increase and veer to the northwest. The cooling temperatures will decrease and eventually end the wet snow avalanche hazard. Strong winds will begin to form isolated pockets of new soft slab on leeward aspects at the highest elevations. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be LOW.