Tetons

The General Avalanche Hazard is MODERATE at Mid and Upper elevations and LOW at Lower elevations. A thin, stiff slab developed Sunday night and Monday at Mid elevations that rests on light density snow. These tripping hazards are only of consequence to a person near the edge of a cliff or other dangerous terrain. Older surface slabs up to two feet in depth rest on buried surface hoar and suncrusts in steep areas. Starting these slides will require larger triggers: more than one person on a slope or the third or later traveler. Avalanches are unlikely in the shallow snowpack at lower elevations.

An upper level ridge will dominate the weather. A weak disturbance ahead of the ridge could bring isolated snow flurries to the mountains Tuesday night then Wednesday will be dry with 10,000 foot temperatures reaching or climbing above the freezing point. Winds will be light out of the West. The General Avalanche Hazard in the TETON area will continue MODERATE on Tuesday. The possibility of backcountry travelers finding and triggering pockets of surface slabs one to two feet in depth persists on steep, wind loaded slopes. The General Avalanche Hazard in the CONTINENTAL DIVIDE/TOGWOTEE PASS and SOUTHWEST TRAILS/GREYS RIVER areas will be MODERATE. In addition to the possibility of triggering pockets of surface slabs similar to those in the Teton area, persistent deep slab instabilities continue to weaken the foundation of the snowpack. Another hard slab was triggered on the south side of East Angle Mountain in the Togwotee Pass area Sunday. Similar slides can be expected in avalanche terrain Tuesday. Stay in areas with trees or travel on ridge crests as the the strength of the snow weakens and such slides become easier to release.