Tetons

The avalanche danger is Low today. Avalanches are unlikely with the exception being human triggered shallow wet loose avalanches in very steep sunlit terrain. Below freezing temps overnight have allowed snow surfaces to regain strength. Rising temps along with light rain showers in the lower elevations will help to break down crusts by midday. High winds and increasing clouds in the afternoon will lessen the amount of melting occurring. Snow showers will develop in the upper elevations in the afternoon but not accumulate enough to create new snow instabilities. Expect 1-3” of new snow by sunset. It will be important to pay attention to rapidly changing conditions such as active loading of slopes and shooting cracks should new snow materialize sooner or greater than what is forecasted.

The thick crust that exists in the upper snowpack will most likely limit any avalanche activity tomorrow to new wind slabs. Peak periods of snowfall are yet to come but we appear to be on track to receive at least 6-8” in the mountains by morning with a bit more falling by mid-day. If we receive the upper end of the 0.9” of water that is forecast, that could translate to close to a foot of new snow with wind slab thicknesses growing to 2 to 3 feet thick in some locations. Wind speeds in the 60-80 mph range out of the west will build hard wind slabs well down from ridgetops and more typical start zones. Anticipate at least Moderate avalanche danger tomorrow and possibly Considerable if we receive the upper end of the forecast totals. Wind slab avalanches tomorrow are likely to be stubborn in the most exposed locations but will be large enough to bury a person.