Tetons

Since yesterday morning, 3 to 10 inches of light density snow fell in the Tetons with the higher amounts favoring the west slope. The new snow has fallen upon good sliding surfaces of facets and crusts. On steep terrain, especially on slopes where the snowpack lacks cohesion, loose snow sluffs will be easily triggered by backcountry travelers. The main hazard continues to be the thin snowpack and hidden obstacles; where small slides could have significant consequences.

A transitory ridge of high pressure will bring mostly clear skies overnight before cloud cover increases during the day and light snowfall returns in the evening. Tonight, mountain temperatures will fall to near zero before climbing into the upper teens in the afternoon. Northwesterly ridgetop winds will back to the southwest at 5 to 15 miles per hour.The snowpack is mostly stable, and the general avalanche hazard is expected to remain Low on Sunday. In very steep terrain above 9,000 feet in the Tetons, skiers and riders might be able to trigger a shallow, dry loose avalanche or a small, isolated pocket of very soft slab near ridgelines. Elsewhere, avalanches are unlikely. The primary hazard remains the shallow, early season snowpack and hidden obstacles just below the snow surface.