Air temperatures were near freezing early this morning and are forecast to rise into the 30s and 40s. As the day warms the hazard will increase the potential for wet slides to occur on steep slopes. Wet loose and wet slab avalanches are possible in steep terrain after snow surfaces soften. In isolated areas these wet slabs could step down to persistent weak layers of faceted snow that are deeply buried in the snowpack. Stay off of and out from under steep terrain after snow surfaces soften.
Weak layers of faceted snow are preserved in the snowpack. At the upper elevations, hard wet slab avalanches with depths to three feet could be triggered by snowmobilers on steep, avalanche-prone slopes.
Wet loose slides will become possible in steep terrain as air temperatures warm and snow surfaces soften. Small, natural sloughs are possible. These sloughs could knock a person over and carry them into a terrain trap, over a cliff or down a very steep sustained slope.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )The high pressure ridge will weaken as a deep low pressure system in the eastern Pacific begins to move onshore. Skies will become increasing cloudy during the day. Precipitation will develop in the afternoon and evening. Snow showers are likely at the highest elevations. Rains Showers are possible at the lower elevations. A couple inches of new snow accumulation is possible at the upper elevations by days end. Temperatures are expected to be warm but drop below freezing overnight. The freezing level is expected to rise to around 7,000 to 8,000 feet during the day and decrease in the evening. Winds will be southwest at 15 to 20 miles per hour with some higher gusts.The snowpack is expected to be mostly stable. Avalanches are unlikely except in extreme terrain and on some upper elevation avalanche paths in the Togwotee Pass area. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be LOW in the Teton and Greys River/Southwest Trails areas and MODERATE at the upper elevations of the Togwotee Pass/Continental Divide Trails area.
