The recent snow has favored the west slope of the Teton Range and the higher elevations where about a foot of new snow has fallen since early yesterday morning. Lesser amounts fell on the east side of the range and at the mid elevations. In favored areas pockets of wind slab have formed on hard old snow surfaces. Slab avalanches triggered on those hard crusts could quickly gain speed and run long distances. These slabs could become dangerous in cliff areas and in steep couloirs. Bears are beginning to emerge from hibernation. Grand Teton National Park has temporarily closed a portion of the east-facing slope of Peak 25 Short until further notice to prevent conflict between a denning grizzly bear and skiers. More information is available at https://www.nps.gov/grte/index.htm
At the upper elevations, in areas favored by the recent snowfall, pockets of wind slab have formed on leeward aspects. These slabs could be 6 to 18 inches deep and could be human triggered in steep wind loaded avalanche starting zones.
Skies will be mostly clear with overnight lows near 10 degrees. Clouds will be on the increase. Light to moderate snowfall is expected to develop later in the day and continue into the evening. Winds will be light at 15 to 20 miles per hour with higher gusts and will back from the northwest to the southwest.Except for some pockets of wind slab at the higher elevations of the Teton Range the snowpack is mostly stable. Those wind slabs could be human triggered in steep avalanche prone terrain in higher elevation areas that were favored by yesterday's storm and could be 6 to 18 inches deep. The general avalanche hazard is expected be moderate at the upper elevations of the Teton Range and low everywhere else.
