Tetons

As the day warms, surface crusts will break down, and the wet snow avalanche hazard will increase. On steep solar aspects, skiers and riders could encounter small wet slides and cornices failing in the afternoon. The dry snow avalanche hazard, which exists at any time of day, is isolated to small pockets of wind slabs along the highest ridges. Although the snowpack is mostly stable, a small slide in serious terrain could have severe consequences if a rider is swept over a cliff or down a steep couloir. Monitor conditions for wet snow avalanches, and as the snow surface softens and loses cohesion, avoid steep sunlit slopes.

Under a ridge of high-pressure, dry weather is expected through Friday morning. Tomorrow skies will be mostly clear. Temperatures will start in the teens and then warm into the 30s and 40s, with the temperature at 10,000 feet rising above freezing for a few hours. Southwesterly ridgetop winds will be 10 to 20 miles per hour. Tomorrow morning in all the forecast areas, the avalanche hazard will start at Low and then increase to Moderate in the afternoon. During the warmest periods of the day and on slopes receiving direct sunlight, the snow’s surfaces will melt and it will be possible for backcountry travelers to trigger small wet snow avalanches. These slides can be slow to release, but as they entrain snow, they have the potential to become destructive. Daily warming will also increase the potential for cornices to fail and possibly slides on slopes prone to glide crack avalanches.Although unlikely, in the Grey’s River and Togwotee Pass forecast areas, there is still some potential for the release of a deep persistent slab avalanche. Triggering one of these slides will take a large load like a snowmobile, a cornice drop, or the release of a wet slide. Tomorrow, backcountry travelers should monitor for wet snow, and when snow surfaces become wet, move to shaded slopes, and avoid steep terrain.