Two more human triggered avalanches were reported yesterday without injury. One was on Pyramid Peak in the Southern Tetons and the other was in Garnet Canyon in the Grand Teton National Park. Both slides occurred on northerly aspects around 9,000 feet in elevation and were a foot or less deep. Similar slides, along with loose snow sluffs, are possible today and could become more likely on sunlit aspects as the day warms. Take note of the extent of the sun's influence on the snowpack and move to shaded slopes as snow surfaces soften.
In steep, wind loaded avalanche terrain above 7,500 feet, backcountry travelers could trigger pockets of wind slab 6 to 18 inches in depth on a variety of aspects. These slides could fail either on density breaks within the storm snow or possibly down to the mid March hard snow surfaces.
Cloud cover will increase overnight ahead of an approaching Pacific shortwave slated to move through the area on Tuesday. Accumulation with this system will be light. Overnight lows in the mountains will be near 10 before rising into the upper 20s during the day. Westerly to southwesterly ridgetop winds will be light at 5 to 15 miles per hour.Above 7,500 feet, the General Avalanche Hazard is expected to be MODERATE on Tuesday. In very steep, wind loaded avalanche terrain, backcountry travelers might be able to trigger pockets of wind slab 6 to 18 inches in depth. These slabs could fail either on density breaks within the storm snow or possibly down to the mid March hard snow surfaces. Cloud cover should negate the effect of the sun. However, with warmer temperatures less sunshine will be needed to soften the frozen snow surfaces. If this occurs, start to consider moving to shaded terrain.
