Tetons

Very strong westerly winds yesterday with gusts in the eighties combined with four to six inches of new snow to create easily triggered slabs to 18 inches in depth on lee slopes. Under the new snow on southerly aspects are smooth sun crusts providing good sliding surfaces. On all aspects deeper slides of older snow to four feet in depth could be triggered by surface events or other large triggers such as more than one person on a slope. At lower elevations isolated pockets of slabs up to two feet in depth could be triggered in steep, active avalanche paths.

A weather disturbance moving down from the north will bring a period of light snow overnight and on Thursday. Accumulations of a few inches are possible. Temperatures will rise to near 10 degrees. Summit winds will be westerly at 10 to 20 miles per hour.The general avalanche hazard in the Teton Area is expected to be MODERATE. Isolated pockets of wind slab up to one foot in depth exist and could be human triggered on steep wind loaded slopes and in cliff areas. Deep dangerous hard slabs up to 10 feet in depth persist and retain some potential to be human triggered especially on very steep wind loaded aspects undercut by cliffs.The general avalanche hazard in the Togwotee Pass/Continental Divide Trails Area is expected to be MODERATE. Deep hard slabs and pockets of soft surface slabs lie upon a weak base of faceted snow. Humans venturing onto steep avalanche paths could trigger dangerous hard slabs that could step down to the ground. Multiple passes across an unstable slope may be made before it fails. The general avalanche hazard in the Greys River/Southwest Trails Area is expected to be CONSIDERABLE. Dangerous deep slabs lie upon a base of weak faceted snow. These slabs could be easily triggered by humans on steep slopes and could run full path.