Tetons

Yesterday's storm brought 5 to 12 inches of new light density snow to the region and favored the west slope of the Teton Range. The new snow accumulated on weak layers of surface hoar and faceted snow and areas of hard crusts. Soft slabs 8 to 16 inches in depth formed by west-southwest to northeast winds and loose snow sluffs could be triggered today by humans who venture onto steep avalanche prone slopes.

Steep valley temperature inversions will develop tonight and continue through the weekend. Temperatures will drop to near zero at the higher elevations and to negative 15 in the valleys overnight. On Friday skies will be mostly sunny above morning valley fog. Temperatures will rise to near 20 degrees in the mountains and into the lower teens in the valleys. Winds will be west-northwest at 10 to 15 miles per hour.Humans who venture onto steep avalanche prone slopes could trigger loose snow sluffs and pockets of wind slab 6 to 14 inches deep. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE at the upper elevations (9,000 to 10,500 feet) and LOW at the mid and lower elevations.