The 5 AM air temperatures are 10 to 14 degrees warmer this morning than they were yesterday. Rising temperatures and sunshine will soften snow surfaces and increase the avalanche hazard as the day progresses. Wet slides involving the recent new snow are possible on steep slopes and could pull out deeper persistent slabs.
Wet slides could occur on steep slopes on a variety of aspects and elevations after snow surfaces have softened. These slides could trigger underlying persistent slabs.
On some steep slopes persistent slabs up to three feet deep lie upon a weak layer of faceted snow. These slabs could be triggered by the weight of a single person or wet slides and will become more sensitive to human triggers as the day warms.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )A fairly brisk westerly flow with limited embedded moisture will bring periods of mid and high clouds and warmer temperatures to the region. Skies will be partly to mostly cloudy with a few mountain snow flurries. Temperatures will drop into the 20s overnight and rise into the 30s and 40s on Wednesday. Winds will be westerly at 15 to 20 miles per hour.Snow surfaces are expected to be cold and hard in the morning. Rising temperatures and sunshine will soften snow surfaces and increase the general avalanche hazard as the day progresses. In the Continental Divide/Togwotee Pass area persistent slabs up to three feet in depth lie upon depth hoar and could be human triggered on steep avalanche prone slopes. In the Southwest Trails/Greys River Area the recent new snow and persistent slabs up to three feet in depth could be human triggered on steep slopes. In the Teton Area conditions are expected to be mostly stable in the early morning hours with some potential for wet loose and shallow wet slab avalanches to be human triggered in steep terrain after snow surfaces soften. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE.
