Tetons

Over the past week intermittent periods of light snowfall have deposited up to 20 inches of new snow with 1.3 inches of moisture at the higher elevations. Light northwest wind have created isolated pockets of new soft slab up to 18 inches in depth on leeward aspects. These shallow pockets of slab and loose snow sluffs could be human triggered on steep slopes and in cliff areas at the mid and upper elevations. In isolated areas some potential may remain for humans to trigger older, hard slabs two to four feet in depth in very steep active avalanche starting zones that did not slide in January. Avalanches are unlikely at the lower elevations. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the dedicated members of Teton County Search & Rescue involved in yesterday tragic incident. Backcountry users should be aware that today's rescue resources may be impacted by yesterdays event.

A weak and fast moving system is likely to bring another inch or so of new snow to the mountains overnight. On Friday skies will be mostly cloudy with a decreasing chance of light snowfall as the day progresses. Temperatures will drop into the single digits overnight and rise into the 20s during the day. Winds are expected to be westerly at 15 to 20 miles per hour overnight and diminish to five to 10 miles per hour and veer to the northwest during the day.Pockets of soft surface slab up to 18 inches in depth exist. These slabs are being formed by west to northwest winds and are sensitive to human triggers. In some areas the potential for a person to trigger a hard slab up to four feet in depth may persist. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE.