Tetons

The snowpack in the Tetons in mostly stable. Low hazard does not mean no hazard exists. Backcountry travelers should be cautious in very steep terrain such as couloirs or cliff areas where new shallow wind slabs could knock someone off their feet. Even small slides can have severe consequences in unforgiving terrain. The chance for wet slides may develop at lower elevations this afternoon if substantial warming occurs.

Mild weather and partly cloudy skies are expected tomorrow. Temperatures will start cold in the single digits and then warm into the twenties in the mountains and thirties in the valleys. Northeasterly ridgetop winds will be light. In all the forecast areas, the daily warming should be monitored as the sun can quickly affect slopes and melt snow surfaces. Skies are expected to be mostly cloudy, so the hazard is not expected to change significantly. Although, if slopes receive direct sunlight, crusts could breakdown, and once snow surfaces become damp, steep slopes should be avoided.In the Tetons, the general avalanche hazard is expected to be Low. At the upper elevations, on leeward terrain features, skiers and riders could trigger small wind slabs up to a foot in depth. Also, small isolated wet slides may be possible on steep sunlit slopes. In the Grey’s River and Togwotee Pass forecast areas, the general avalanche hazard is expected to be Moderate. The high consequence hazard still remains the possibility for a person to trigger a very dangerous slab avalanche with depths up to 8 feet. Backcountry travelers could also encounter small wind slabs at the higher elevations or small wet slides during the warmest periods of the day.