Tetons

At the mid and upper elevations, the general avalanche hazard will increase throughout the day. Moderate to heavy snowfall along with southerly to southwesterly ridgetop winds will continue to build soft slabs creating dangerous avalanche conditions. Backcountry travelers could trigger these slabs to depths of 18 inches, along with loose snow sluffs, in steep, wind loaded terrain. The potential persists for slides involving older snow to release on slick crusts to depths of three feet. Natural activity is also possible. Cautious route finding, conservative decision making and the ability to resist peer pressure are all essential for safe travel in avalanche terrain today. Shallow, wet loose sluffs will become possible in the valley this afternoon as snow turns to rain.

A winter storm warning has been issued for Western Wyoming through Friday evening. Snowfall intensity is expected to pick up again Thursday night into Friday with snowfall rates of two to three inches an hour possible at times. This powerful Pacific storm system could bring 18 to 36 inches of new snow to the mountains by Friday evening. Southerly ridgetop winds at 10 to 20 miles per hour will accompany this snowfall. Overnight lows in the mountains will be near 20, rising into the upper 20s during the day.If forecasted snowfall arrives, the general avalanche hazard will be HIGH in the upper elevations of Western Wyoming and TRAVEL IN AVALANCHE TERRAIN IS NOT RECOMMENDED. By tomorrow evening up to 5 inches of snow water equivalent could have accumulated on buried crusts since last Sunday. These dangerous slabs, three to five feet deep, could be easily triggered by backcountry travelers, falling cornices or release naturally. At the lower elevations the avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE and backcountry travelers could trigger soft slabs up to 18 inches deep, along with loose snow sluffs, in steep avalanche terrain.