At the higher elevations, above 8,000 feet, skiers and riders have a chance to trigger pockets of soft surface slab with depths to eighteen inches. A remote chance also persist for humans to trigger deeper, hard slab avalanches. Avalanches are unlikely below an elevation of 8,000 feet.
Layers of buried surface hoar snow persist in the snowpack. Some potential remains, especially for larger triggers like snowmobiles to trigger deep hard slabs with crowns to 40 inches in depth in isolated areas. Areas where these weaknesses may be found are steep avalanche paths that have not seen much traffic throughout the season, particularly those with northerly aspects.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )A cold front will sweep through our forecast region from the north to south. Periods of light to moderate snowfall are likely overnight and into the day on Tuesday. This front is fast moving. Clearing skies are expected by late afternoon. Snowfall accumulations of one to three inches are forecast for the valleys. Three to six inches are possible in the mountains with locally higher amounts possible. Temperatures will be in the single digits and teens. Winds will be gusty during the frontal passage and veer from the west to the northeast.Loose snow sluffs and shallow pockets of new wind slab are likely to be easily triggered on steep slopes with hard old snow surfaces. Slab depths of six to 12 inches are possible. These sluffs and slabs could knock people over in very steep terrain and will entrain snow on long sustained, steep pitches. Smart terrain choices will make these hazards easy to manage. Monitor conditions and adjust your plans if you experience periods of intense snowfall and strong winds. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be higher than it has been but remain LOW in the Teton and Greys River/Southwest Trails areas. The hazard at the upper elevations in the Togwotee Pass/Continental Divide area remains MODERATE due to the remote possibility of triggering a deep hard slab on a buried layer of faceted snow.
