New snowfall and very strong westerly winds are rapidly loading slopes at mid and upper elevations creating easily triggered soft slabs. At lower elevations cooler temperatures should help stabilize the warm snowpack. Any periods of rain could rapidly eliminate that stability.
Strong westerly winds and heavy snowfall are building easily triggered wind slabs on lee slopes at mid and upper elevations. The size and distribution of these slabs will increase through the day with depths approaching 18 or more inches. The new snow is falling on smooth suncrusts on many aspects.
Light snow will continue overnight into Monday with light accumulations. A weak shortwave will track though the region Monday afternoon increasing the light snowfall and bringing winds back to westerly at 20 to 30 miles per hour. Temperatures will remain in the single digits overnight then warm to the low 20s Monday.Easily triggered soft slabs six to 18 inches in depth will continue to build into Monday. Slabs may exist on slopes well below ridgecrests or under cliff bands. The General Avalanche Hazard is expected to be MODERATE in the Tetons and Southwest Trails/Greys River areas. The hazard is expected to be LOW in the Togwotee Pass area where less snow has accumulated.
