At the upper elevations, skiers and riders could trigger pockets of shallow wind slab. On sunlit aspects, extended periods of sunshine could increase the likelihood of these slides along with the chance of sluffing of the new snow. While frozen, the snowpack at the mid and lower elevations is mostly stable and avalanches are unlikely. If significant warming occurs and the snowpack becomes unsupportable, wet slides could become possible.
Strong northeasterly ridgetop winds continue to transport recent snowfall and build wind slabs in exposed terrain. These dense, stiff wind slabs lie upon hard snow surfaces. Backcountry travelers venturing into steep, wind loaded avalanche terrain could trigger these slides to depths of 12 inches on a variety of aspects at the upper elevations.
A cold airmass will remain over the area tonight with gradual warming on Wednesday with a chance of a few mountain snow flurries. Temperatures in the mountains will rise into the 30s from overnight lows in the teens. Winds will back to the northwest and relax to about 10 miles per hour. The general avalanche hazard in the Teton, the northern portion of the Greys River/Southwest Trails and the Continental Divide/Togwotee Pass areas is expected to be LOW. In these areas small pockets of hard wind slab lie upon hard old snow surfaces. These small surface slabs could be triggered by humans on very steep slopes, in cliff areas, beneath cornices and in steep couloirs. The likely hood of triggered one of these small slabs will increase as the day warms. The general avalanche hazard in the southern portion of the Greys River/Southwest Trails area is expected to MODERATE. Wind slabs up to 30 inches in depth could be triggered on steep slopes.
