Tetons

At the mid and upper elevations, backcountry travelers could trigger soft slabs up to 18 inches in depth on steep, avalanche-prone slopes. The possibility also persists for hard slab avalanches to be triggered at the base of the snowpack in steep avalanche terrain, even after a slope has been crossed several times. Larger loads, such as snowmobiles or groups of skiers, have a greater potential to cause failure of these weaknesses. As the day warms, these slides will become more susceptible to failure. At the lower elevations, the avalanche hazard is limited to isolated pockets in very steep terrain.

Light snowfall or flurries are expected over the peaks Tuesday night through Wednesday morning. The snow will become more widespread Wednesday afternoon and evening although only light accumulations are expected. Morning temperatures Wednesday will be in the single digits and rise to the mid or upper teens while ridgetop winds will be westerly at 10 to 15 miles per hour.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE in the Teton and Togwotee Pass areas, and CONSIDERABLE in the Greys River area where the snowpack remains more fragile. In steep terrain, pockets of soft slab avalanches up to 18 inches in depth could be triggered. Small but potentially lethal slides running on the buried, weak layer of surface hoar have been triggered by skiers and riders nearby, or on slopes that have been ridden a few times. The possibility also remains for riders and skiers to trigger hard slab avalanches to the base of the snowpack.