Tetons

The snowfall during the past 24 hours appears to have favored the west slope of the Teton Range. Above an elevation of 8,500 feet on northerly aspects and above an elevation of 9,500 feet on southerly aspects the recent new snow has fallen on slick old snow surfaces. At the upper elevations skiers or snowboarders could trigger isolated pockets of shallow soft slab six to 18 inches in depth in steep wind loaded avalanche starting zones or loose snow sluffs on very steep slopes unaffected by the wind. Avalanches are unlikely at the mid and lower elevations where the recent new snow has accumulated on previously bare ground.

The moist and unsettled west-northwest flow will continue to favor the west slope of the Tetons and Togwotee Pass but will slowly dry out by late Sunday morning. Several inches of additional accumulation are possible overnight in favored areas. Skies will be mostly cloudy on Sunday with scattered snow showers. In the mountains temperatures will drop to near zero overnight and remain in the single digits on Sunday. Winds are expected to be northwesterly at 10 to 20 miles per hour.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE at the higher elevations of the Teton Range where the greatest new snow accumulations have occurred. In these areas northwest winds could form pockets of soft slab up to 18 inches in depth on slick melt-freeze crusts. Humans who venture into steep wind loaded avalanche starting zones could trigger these slabs. The general avalanche hazard is expected to LOW in areas with lesser new snow accumulations and at the mid elevations. Lower elevations lack snow.