Tetons

Strong southerly winds and over a foot of new snow in the past twenty four hours have formed easily triggered or naturally running soft slabs to three feet in depth at mid and upper elevations. Warm, heavy snow fell on weak, light density snow creating an unstable, upside-down condition. WYDOT released slides on Teton Pass early this morning and reported continuous sloughs running off road-cuts blocking the highway. Continued snow and wind will increase the size and sensitivity of potential slides. At low elevations soft slabs to eighteen inches in depth could be triggered in steep, wind-loaded terrrain, ravines and road cuts. TRAVEL IN AVALANCHE TERRAIN IS NOT RECOMMENDED.

Snow will continue in the mountains of Western Wyoming Monday night with 2 to 3 inches of accumulation by Tuesday morning. Occasional light snow is forecasted for the day Tuesday then increase as another system arrives by evening. Temperatures will drop to minus 7 degrees Tuesday morning and climb only to 5 degrees above zero during the day. Mountain winds will be westerly with 40 m.p.h. averages and gusts in the 60s.In the Tetons temperatures warmed as the snow fell Sunday creating a weak situation with loose, light-density snow below warmer, dense snow at the surface. The strong winds Tuesday blew the new snow into lee areas making easily triggered or natural avalanches to three feet in depth possible on steep, lee slopes at all elevations. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be High on Tuesday.