Snowfall this morning is favoring the Togwotee Pass area, particularly slopes east of the divide. In steep terrain above 8000 feet, wind slabs are forming on hard crusts or firm snow surfaces. These shallow slabs may be sensitive in steep terrain however the primary avalanche concern continues to involve old weak snow that is abundant in the lower portion of the snowpack. Use caution as avalanches involving these old layers are hard to predict and could be triggered by a person hitting a weak spot on an avalanche path even after it has been tracked many times. Below 8000 feet avalanches are unlikely today except for the possibility of small wet slides this afternoon as temperature warms and skies partially clear.
The possibility continues for humans to triggered hard slab avalanches in very steep known avalanche paths such as the east face of Lava. If triggered these slabs could have depths of four to eight feet and are likely to cause serious injury or death.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )The next system that will impact the area tonight and Tuesday is to favor the east side of the Continental Divide. While locations such as Commisarry Ridge in the Salt River Range and Brooks Lake could see several inches of snow, little precipitation is expected in the Tetons. Temperatures are to be colder with higher elevations starting in the single digits and having highs in the low twenties. Winds are to be relatively light and vary in direction as this storm wraps around western WY. The avalanche danger will be Low in the Tetons. The snowpack is mostly stable but backcountry travelers still need to be respectful of terrain where very small avalanches, involving the few inches of new snow, could knock someone off their feet in unforgiving terrain.The danger will be Moderate above 8000 feet in the Southwest Trails and Togwotee Pass areas. In these areas, although the likelihood continues to decrease, the possibility for human triggered very large avalanches persists.
