Tetons

The General Avalanche Hazard is CONSIDERABLE at the Mid and Upper elevations. Southwest winds and six inches of easily drifted light density snow this morning on top of yesterday's six inches have created easily triggered soft slabs to eighteen inches in depth in lee areas below ridges and in cross loaded gulleys. Below the new snow are slabs to two feet in depth from the past week. All of this snow sits on weak, faceted snow on sun and melt-freeze crusts. Over the weekend, before the additional foot of snow, skiers triggered multiple slides throughout the region, primarily on Northeast to Southeast facing slopes. Use good route finding skills today and avoid open slopes. The Hazard at Low elevations is LOW today where the snowpack is thin and less snow has fallen.

Snow will return to the Tetons Tuesday night and spread to the Greys River area by Wednesday morning. The snow will continue through the day Wednesday. Accumulations of 6 to 8 inches are forecasted for the Tetons, 4 to 5 inches in the Greys and 4 to 6 inches in the Continental Divide/Togwotee Pass area. Strong winds are expected with mountain top winds averaging over 40 miles per hour gusting to 65. Wednesday morning 9500 foot lows will be in the teens then rise to the mid twenties during the day.With the forecasted snow and available snow on the ground for transport the strong forecasted winds should develop easily triggered soft surface slabs at Upper elevations near ridge crests, below cliff bands and in cross loaded gullies. Often with very strong winds much of the snow is moved to areas some distance below the ridgecrests and slides are more common there. The General Avalanche Hazard, currently CONSIDERABLE in the Tetons and Greys River areas will not change if forecasted conditions occur. In the Togwotee Pass area the hazard will remain MODERATE.