Tetons

Overnight temperatures were warm, dropping only into the upper twenties to low thirties at all elevations. Soft slabs up to two feet in depth may be susceptible to human triggers in steep wind loaded terrain at the high elevations today. Rising temperatures and sunlight will further weaken the snow surface, increasing the sensitivity of these slabs as well as providing for the possibility of natural wet slide activity at the mid and high elevations. Avalanches in the shallow or non existent snowpack at the low elevations are not expected today.

Snow showers at high elevations and rain showers below are possible overnight and into Saturday morning. Skies are to be partly cloudy in the afternoon as mountain temperatures rise from early morning lows in the upper twenties to highs in the upper forties. Winds are to be westerly at 5-15 miles per hour. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE in steep wind loaded avalanche terrain where recent snow storms have deposited snow upon the old snowpack. Generally this hazard exists above 9000 feet although it does reach into lower elevations in the Southwest Trails area and isolated areas of the Tetons. As temperatures quickly rise well above the freezing point the snow surface will weaken providing for the possibility of wet slides as well as the increased chance for human triggered slab avalanches to three foot depths in very steep terrain near cliff and rocky areas.