Tetons

At the highest elevations, isolated pockets of small wind slabs could become problematic for those who venture into extreme terrain. Also, during this time of year, the spring sun can quickly soften the snow and increase the wet snow avalanche hazard on slopes that receive direct sunlight. Monitor conditions for increasing wet snow avalanche hazards during the warmest periods of the day. On steep sustained slopes, over cliffs, or terrain traps these small slides could carry a person into a dangerous situation.

As a weather system moves from the west into Nevada, it is expected to bring periods of snowfall across the forecast areas into Friday. Tonight, snowfall should favor the Salt River and Wyoming ranges with 1 to 2 inches of accumulation in the mountains by the morning. Then tomorrow, snow is expected to develop over the Teton and Togwotte Pass forecast areas and continue over the Grey’s River forecast area with 1 to 3 inches of accumulation. Mountain temperatures will start in the teens and then warm into the upper twenties and thirties. Winds will continue to be out of the east at 15 to 20 miles per hour with gusts into the thirties. Due to the convective nature of a spring storm, there could be locations with heavier snowfall, especially in the southern portion of the forecast area. The new snow will fall on old snow surfaces of melt-freeze crust, dense settled snow, and firm cold snow on high northerly-facing slopes. In areas that receive more snowfall, shallow surface slabs could form on leeward slopes above 9,000 feet. If there are periods of sunshine, the new snow could become reactive and easily slide on firm surfaces. The avalanche hazard is expected to be Low. Monitor the development of the storm and the strange loading pattern with atypical easterly winds.