Tetons

The General Avalanche Hazard at Upper elevations is MODERATE. New snow and westerly winds have continued to build slabs in lee areas to over a foot in depth. Observed slabs yesterday, on east to southeasterly aspects, were fast and hard enough to knock users off their feet. The slides are lubricated by surface hoar and facets that sit on slick sun crusts. The hazard on northerly aspects is increasing as the potential to trigger slides will rise with new snow and wind. The Avalanche Hazard at Mid and Low elevations is LOW but will be increasing through the day as new snow and wind increase the chance of triggering a slide in steep areas.

More snow and continued strong winds are to continue through Thursday night with 6" of snow expected in the Teton and Southwest areas and less in the Togwotee area. Temperatures on Thursday are to rise into the low twenties in the mountains.AVALANCHE HAZARD FORECAST FOR THE TETON AREA:The General Hazard is expected to raise to CONSIDERABLE Thursday morning at mid and upper elevations as strong winds continue to form very sensitive surface slabs to two feet in depth out of new and recent snow on leeward slopes. FOR THE TOGWOTEE PASS AREA and THE SOUTHWEST TRAILS AREA:The general avalanche hazard is expected to be Moderate throughout these regions where pockets of surface slabs could be triggered on wind loaded slopes. These slabs have formed from new snowfall in the Western reaches of these areas and from last weeks snowfall in the Eastern and Southern parts of these regions. If significantly more snow is recieved in the Southwest Trails area Wednesday night the hazard there could raise to CONSIDERABLE on Thursday.Backcountry users are advised to consult area specific forecasts issued every morning as new information may become available and unexpected weather can change conditions.