Tetons

Rapid, heavy snowfall over two feet in the past 48 hours and very strong westerly winds have created easily triggered or naturally running slabs to five feet in depth at the mid and high elevations. The new snow rests on weak, light density snow and temperatures continue to warm. This combination of factors has made an ideal situation for dangerous avalanche activity. THERE IS NO SAFE WAY TO TRAVEL IN OR BELOW AVALANCHE TERRAIN TODAY. At low elevations the hazard is increasing with warm temperatures and rainfall. Road cuts have already begun to slide and more should be expected as the weak snowpack looses strength. Ravines and rooftops will also be shedding snow.

Continued snowfall and strong winds are expected into Thursday morning as colder air moves into the area. During the day winds and snowfall are expected to diminish as the flow weakens. An additional six to ten inches could fall by Thursday afternoon. Mountain temperatures are to start in the single digits in the morning before rising into the upper teens. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be High as strong winds continue to load avalanche starting zones. Unstable slabs lie on a variety of aspects and elevations in steep avalanche terrain. These slabs could have depths to four feet at the higher elevations where greater snowfall amounts fell and the strongest winds blew.