Tetons

At the upper elevations strong southwest to west winds and over a foot of new snow with more than an inch of moisture has created unstable conditions on steep northerly aspects. In some areas dense slabs lie upon weak faceted snow and hard October crusts. Humans who venture into steep wind loaded avalanche starting zones and cliff areas could triggered slabs up to 30 inches deep. At the mid and lower elevations the recent new snow have been drifted but lies directly on the ground surface. Avalanches are unlikely except in isolated pockets in very steep, wind loaded avalanche starting zones.

Skies will continue to be mostly cloudy with periods of light snowfall in a west-northwesterly flow. Accumulations of several inches of new snow are possible in the mountains every 12 hours or so for the next several days. Mountain temperatures will remain in the teens. Winds will be westerly at 30 with gusts to 40 along the higher ridge crests.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE above an elevation of 8,500 feet. On northerly aspects pockets of stiff wind slab 15 to 30 inches deep have formed on weak faceted snow and hard crusts. Small avalanches (up to class size 2) could be human triggered in steep avalanche starting zones, steep couloirs and in cliff areas. Class 2 size avalanches can easily kill or seriously injure a person. Some potential may exist for a medium size (class size 3) avalanche to occur in isolated areas. The general avalanche hazard below an elevation of 8,500 feet is expected to be LOW. However low hazard does not mean there is no hazard. Isolated pockets of wind slab up to 18 inches depth are possible on steep banks and road cuts.