Tetons

This morning's air temperatures at elevation are starting off around ten degrees warmer than yesterday morning and are forecast to rise into the mid-30s and 40s. The snowpack will be mostly stable until snow surfaces soften. Warming temperatures will increase the wet snow avalanche hazard. Wet slides are possible on very steep slopes. Cornices collapses are also possible and could triggered a very large deep slab avalanche. Monitor conditions and avoid steep terrain and cornices during the warmest portion of the day.

The showery conditions are to continue through tonight and most of Thursday. This means snowfall amounts are hard to predict and are likely to vary even within relatively close distances. In favored areas at the higher elevations six or more inches of snow could fall. Below 8000 feet potential moisture could start as rain before returning to snow as temperatures lower tonight. A slight potential for thunderstorms continues through this evening. Highs on Thursday are to reach the mid-twenties at the higher elevations and the upper thirties in the valleys. Winds are to continue to be from the south overnight and then veer to the west during the day. Averages below 20 miles per hour are expected although some showery periods could bring periods of stronger winds.In the Tetons, the general avalanche hazard will be Low in the morning and has the potential to increase to Moderate at the mid and high elevations in the afternoon depending on snowfall amounts, wind speeds and temperatures that occur. In the Togwotee and Southwest Trails areas, the danger will be moderate at higher elevations where the deep slab problem that first developed in December continues to pose a threat to backcountry travelers.