Tetons

Dangerous slabs lie in the backcountry at mid and high elevations. Hard slabs to four foot depths could be triggered today by riders or skiers in any steep avalanche terrain. Snow surfaces that feel strong and supportive will give false senses of security and lure people into aggressive terrain. These slabs are underlain by weak snow and crusts. Under these conditions, tracks are no indication of stability as slabs may fail after many have risked exposure. These slabs will become more sensitive as warming and sunlight further weaken them during the afternoon. Yesterday a snowboarder triggered such a large slide after it had been it had seen significant traffic. Conservative decision making is essential today. At low elevations avalanches are unlikely except in isolated pockets.

Another storm is on track to bring snow to the area by sunrise through the evening. Snowfall rates are to increase in the afternoon as a cold air impacts the storm and west winds are forecast to have averages near forty miles per hour through most of the daylight hours. Temperatures in the teens are expected.The general avalanche hazard will be Considerable. Dense to hard slabs with depths to four feet lie in avalanche terrain. In very steep terrain the chance continues to trigger these dangerous slabs. Failure may occur even after a slab has been tracked several times when a single person hits a weak point. Larger loads such as snowmobiles are also more likely to impact the weak layer under the firm surface snow and trigger such an event. In the afternoon new shallow surface slabs may develop as strong winds distribute the falling snow.