Up to ten inches of new snow with 1.5 inches of moisture has fallen at the upper elevations since Sunday morning. Periods of rain have occurred at the lower elevations. Strong west-southwest winds have formed dense wind slabs on leeward aspects. These slabs lie upon graupel and slick old snow surfaces and could be triggered by humans who venture into steep wind loaded avalanche starting zones and cliff areas. At the lower elevations warm temperatures and periods of rain have created isothermal conditions. Wet slides are possible on steep snow covered slopes. The hazard will increase at all elevations as the day warms.
At the upper elevations pockets of dense wind slab up to 20 inches in depth could be human triggered in steep wind loaded avalanche starting zones and cliff areas. At the mid elevations isolated pockets of dense wind slab up to 12 inches in depth could be human triggered in steep couloirs and cliff areas.
Wet slides are possible on very steep slopes, road cuts and steep backs. These slides could be human triggered or release naturally.
Generally dry and warm conditions are expected on Wednesday. Skies are anticipated to be partly cloudy. Temperatures will drop into the 20s overnight and rise into the upper 30s during the day. Winds will relax to around 15 miles per hour with gusts to 30 and back towards the south-southwest.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE in the Togwotee Pass/Continental Divide, Southwest Trails/Greys River areas the higher elevations of the Teton area. Dense surface slabs one to two feet in depth could be human triggered in all of these areas. These slabs are likely to be deeper and larger in the Greys River area where more snow accumulated during the past several days. In the Togwotee Pass area, older persistent slabs one to three feet in depth, could also be triggered by humans at the higher elevations in active avalanche paths that face north through east to south. Warm afternoon temperatures will increase the hazard in all areas and create the potential for wet slide activity on steep sunlit slopes at the lower elevations.
