Tetons

Strong winds continue to load existing slabs and create dangerous unstable conditions. At the upper elevations soft surface slabs up to three feet in depth exist. These slabs could be triggered by the weight of a single person and have potential to release naturally in response to continued wind loading. In isolated areas some potential exists for hard slabs to step down another foot or two to older layers of buried crust. At the mid elevations pockets of soft surface slab up to two feet in depth could be human triggered in steep wind loaded avalanche starting zone. Avalanches are unlikely at the lower elevations except in isolated pockets.

A strong, fast moving storm system will bring moderate to heavy snowfall to the region overnight. New snow accumulations of six to 12 inches in the mountains and three to six inches in the valleys are forecasted. West to northwest winds at 30 to 40 with gusts to 60 miles per hour will accompany this snowfall. On Saturday the snowfall and winds will slowly diminish. Temperatures will be in the upper teens and low 20s. The new snow and strong winds are expected to increase the avalanche hazard and create dangerous conditions. Slabs avalanches two to four in depth are expected to release naturally at the higher elevations and could run long distances. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be HIGH in the Greys River/Southwest Trails Area, at the upper elevations of the Teton Area and CONDSIDERABLE in the Togwotee Pass/Continental Divide Trails Area. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended during periods of high hazard.