Tetons

Yesterday’s rain and mostly above-freezing temperatures saturated the snowpack below 8,000 feet. A light freeze overnight has formed surface crusts over a warm, wet snowpack. As soon as these crusts break down, the wet snow avalanche hazard will become elevated. On steep snow-cover slopes, where the snowpack is unconsolidated, wet slides are possible. At the upper elevations, it is possible for backcountry travelers to trigger wind slab avalanches up to 12inches deep on steep wind-loaded terrain features. Due to the showery nature of yesterday’s snowfall, the new snow accumulation varies from 6 to 12 inches. As the day warms and if there are periods of sunshine, the new snow will become easy to trigger and will likely entrain surface snow. Monitor the day’s warming and the effects of the solar radiation, and at all elevations, avoid steep avalanche-prone terrain with wet snow.

This evening and into tonight, there may be some isolated snow shower above 7,000 feet with very light accumulation. Then tomorrow, as a ridge builds over the region conditions are forecasted to become drier and warmer with partly cloudy skies. Mountain temperatures will range from the 20s to 40s and valleys from the 30s to 50s. Westerly to southwesterly ridgetop winds will be light with possible gusts in the teens and 20s. Freezing temperatures overnight along with clearing skies should decrease the wet snow avalanche hazard. For Saturday, the avalanche hazard is expected to start low and then increase as the day warms. In the morning, backcountry travelers could trigger small pockets of wind slab 12 inches deep above 9,000 feet. These slabs will most likely be found on northerly aspects where the snow was not affected by today’s warming temperatures. Below 8,500 feet, once the surface crusts breakdown, wet snow avalanches will be possible on steep terrain. At the lowest elevations in the Togwotee Pass forecast area and the Southwest Trails forecast area, these wet slides could step down to the ground. As the snowpack becomes wet and unconsolidated, avoid steep avalanche-prone terrain and terrain traps.