In steep terrain above 8000 feet the possibility continues for large to very large avalanches to occur involving persistent weak snow layers that are deeply buried in the snowpack. Use caution as such an event would be hard to predict and could be triggered by a person hitting a weak spot on an avalanche path even after it has been tracked. Below 8000 feet avalanches are unlikely today except for the possibility of small wet slides this afternoon as the snow surface warms.
The possibility continues for humans to trigger hard slab avalanches in very steep avalanche paths. If triggered these slabs could be very large, have depths of four to eight feet, and are likely to cause serious injury or death.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )A fast moving system is to bring two to four inches of snow to the mountains and an inch to the valleys by sunrise on Tuesday. Winds will be westerly during the precipitation with averages near thirty miles per hour and should increase to higher averages from sunrise to mid-morning as the system exits. Overnight temperatures should cool down to the teens up high and to the low twenties in towns. During the rest of the day on Tuesday, lingering snow showers will be possible as skies partially clear, winds decrease and temperatures reach the mid-twenties. For the first time since December 15th 2020, the avalanche danger will be rated as Low in the Teton Forecast area at all elevations. The colder temperatures are expected to stabilize and lock on current avalanche hazards in all but extreme terrain. New snow is not expected to be deep enough to create storm instabilities. In the Southwest Trails and Togwotee Pass areas, the danger will be Low below 8000 feet and increase from Low to Moderate above that elevation. Colder temperatures will decrease the chance for some avalanche threats, however the possibility of triggering an avalanche involving deep preserved weak layers continues. Although it has become less likely, the possibility exists for a single person to trigger a very large avalanche that would likely carry severe consequences. This likelihood will increase in the afternoon as temperatures rise, particularly on sunlit slopes.
