Tetons

Eight inches of new snow fell in the past twenty four hours accompanied by gusts to 50 mph during the heaviest snowfall. This combination has created sensitive slabs to two feet in depth. These slabs rest on several inches of weak, light density snow in lee areas and on steeper slopes. Cross loaded gullies and slopes above terrain traps should also be avoided. As the day warms and snow and winds continue slides will become more sensitive.In areas that have been less wind affected, loose sluffs could be started in steep slide paths. Avalanches are unlikely at the lower elevations due to shallow snow depths.

Tuesday evening into Wednesday a fetch of Pacific moisture will bring 4 to 8 inches of snow to the Tetons and Salt/Greys River areas with deeper accumulations at the higher elevations. Winds will be from the Southwest at 15 to 20 miles per hour and 9500 foot temperatures will rise to the low twenties. The Togwotee Pass/Continental Dive area will receive 3 to 4 inches of snow. The General Avalanche Hazard is expected to be CONDSIDERABLE Wednesday in the Tetons and Greys River areas. Although winds are not forecasted to be strong enough to create a high risk of wind slabs, the continuing build-up of snow will increase the chance of triggering slides in areas that developed weak, faceted surface snow in the clear period last week. These layers are mostly in shaded and easterly aspects around 8000 to 9500 feet. Areas of slabs to two feet in depth could be triggered below the higher ridge crests that experience stronger winds or other areas where deeper snow accumulates such as under cliffs. Deeper hard slabs, which lie upon weak, faceted snow, persist primarily in the Togwotee Pass and Greys River areas, and could still be triggered on easterly and northerly aspects.