Backcountry travelers venturing into very steep, avalanche prone terrain could trigger persistent slabs with depths up to three feet. As the day progresses, isolated pockets of shallow wind slab will begin to build in exposed leeward terrain. On very steep wind loaded slopes, skiers and riders might be able to trigger one of these small slides to depths of six to nine inches by this evening. Avalanches below 7500 feet are unlikely.
Persistent slabs up to three feet deep lie upon weak faceted snow near the base of the snowpack. On some very steep slopes, these slabs could be triggered by riders or skiers even after a slope has been crossed multiple times. The chance to trigger these slides will slowly increase as new snow adds weight to the basal weak layers.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Expect increasing cloud cover overnight ahead of an approaching disturbance embedded in northwesterly flow. This system will bring snow to mountains early Monday morning and continue throughout the day with three to six inches of new snow by Monday evening. Overnight lows in the mountains will be in the mid teens before rising into the mid 20s during the day. Northwesterly ridgetop winds will back to the west at 10 to 20 miles per hour.The General Avalanche Hazard in Tetons is expected to be LOW Monday morning, but could rise to MODERATE during the day if new snow and associated winds are sufficient to create new wind slabs which will build on surface hoar and sun crusts.Persistent slabs up to three feet deep still pose a threat to skiers and riders in the Togwotee Pass and Greys River in steep, avalanche prone terrain. There, the General Avalanche Hazard will remain MODERATE.
