Backcountry travelers still have some potential of triggering small to large wind slabs in very steep, wind loaded terrain at the mid and upper elevations. Warming temperatures and abundant sunshine might increase the likelihood of triggering these slabs on sunlit aspects in the afternoon. Monitor the sun’s effect on the snowpack, and be willing to alter your travel plans if conditions warrant. At the lower elevations, the snowpack has gone through several melt-freeze cycles, and avalanche activity is unlikely.
Wind slabs that formed last week reside above sun crusts, surface hoar and dense, settled snow. Skiers and riders venturing onto very steep, wind loaded slopes above 8,000 feet may be able to trigger these slabs with depths of one to two feet.
Dry weather is to continue tonight and Tuesday. Clouds are to move in late Tuesday with light snow expected Tuesday night. Morning temperature inversions are expected similar to today with morning temperatures near ten degrees at the higher elevations and colder below that elevation. Highs are to reach near thirty at all elevations. Southwest winds with ten to fifteen mile per hour averages will help to mix out the temperature inversion. The General avalanche hazard will be Moderate in higher terrain and Low in lower terrain in all the forecast areas. In the Teton area, the triggering of wind slabs remains a possibility. In the Togwotee Pass area, where the snowpack is wrought with weak snow, deep persistent slab could still be triggered by a single person, causing large to very avalanches. The Southwest Trails area has a potential for either of these avalanche problem types, wind slabs or deep slabs, although avalanches involving the deep weakness are not as probable as in the Togwotee Pass zone. In all areas, larger triggers such as snow machines or naturally falling cornices are more likely to cause failure and increasing temperatures and direct sunlight will weaken slopes and cornices in the late morning and afternoon.
