Tetons

Yesterday and overnight very strong west southwest winds drove available snow onto steep,lee slopes near ridgetops and cross-loading ridges to create areas of stiff wind slab to 12 inches in depth that could be human triggered. At mid and upper elevations dense snow and west to northwest winds ending Tuesday created dense slabs up to three feet in depth. The slabs lie upon weak, lighter density snow and hard, old snow surfaces. Starting these slabs may require greater triggers such as the second or later person on a slope, more than one person at a time on a slope or a smaller surface slide. Avalanches are unlikely at the lower elevations.

A strong winter storm is forecasted to bring several inches of snow overnight and continue through Saturday at all elevations. Ridgetop winds will be southwesterly overnight at thirty miles per hour then southerly Saturday. Temperatures will be in the low to mid twenties.With forecasted snow and winds, dangerous slabs will develop on lee slopes at Mid and Upper elevations by Saturday morning. Rapid snowfall rates will increase the size and sensitivity of the slabs through the day. As new slabs grow the potential to pull out deeper, hard slabs will increase. The avalanche hazard will rise rapidly during the day and may reach HIGH by afternoon.