Tetons

At the mid and upper elevations pockets of soft, surface slab up to two feet in depth and loose snow sloughs could be triggered by people venturing into avalanche starting zones, cliff areas and very steep terrain. Yesterday two soft slab avalanches were skier triggered on steep slopes outside the Jackson Hole Resort. One skier was carried but able to grab a tree. On Saturday a skier was caught, carried, not buried but injured by a collision with a tree in a two foot deep slide on the north side of "Four Pines" south of the resort. Similar events should be expected today. Avalanches are unlikely at the lower elevations.

Snow will increase across the mountains of western Wyoming Monday night into Tuesday. Westerly winds with 25 mile per hour averages are expected overnight then increase to 35 miles per hour with stronger gusts during the day Tuesday. Temperatures at 9,500 feet will drop to 10 degrees by Tuesday morning then warm to the mid 20s during the day. Up to a foot of new snow is forecasted by late Tuesday afternoon in the Tetons and up to seven inches in other mountain areas.The combination of ample existing light density snow easily moved by strong winds, moderate to heavy new snowfall and weak sliding surfaces will make for a rapidly increasing chance for human triggered and naturally releasing avalanches. Slab depths will quickly increase past three feet during the day. The avalanche hazard is expected to be Considerable. Travel in avalanche terrain will become increasingly hazardous through the day.