Tetons

Warming temperatures and sunshine will be a primary factor today. As the day heats up, the chance for skiers and riders to trigger pockets of wind slab up to two feet in depth will be on the increase in very steep terrain above 8,500 feet. Monitor temperatures and the sun’s impact on the snowpack. When snow surfaces start to become damp, transition to shaded terrain. Large cornices exist in high elevation terrain. Warming temperatures will increase the likelihood of cornice failure, which in turn could trigger a large to very large persistent deep slab avalanche. Below 8,500 feet, the snowpack is mostly stable, and significant avalanche activity is unlikely.

Conditions will continue to be mostly dry. Temperatures will drop into the teens tonight and rise into the 20s and 30s during the day. Winds will be light and variable. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE in the Togwotee Pass and Greys River areas were large deep slab avalanches up to five feet in depth could still be triggered by snowmobilers who climb very steep slopes. In the Teton area the general avalanche hazard is expected to be LOW in the early morning hours and increase to MODERATE during the warmest portion of the day. In all areas, small pockets of wind slab could be triggered in upper elevation avalanche starting zones and cliff areas. Large cornices exist and may become unstable. Large cornice failures could trigger dangerous deep slabs avalanches.