Tetons

At the mid and upper elevations over the past 30 hours 9 inches of new snow with over an inch of moisture has fallen and combined with very strong southwest winds to create new dense wind slabs up to 18 inches in depth. These slabs could be triggered by skiers or riders who venture into steep wind loaded avalanche starting zones. At the lower elevations rain and warm temperatures have created unstable conditions on steep snow covered slopes. Wet loose slides to the ground are possible on steep banks and road cuts.

Temperatures are forecasted to be in the teens Saturday morning rising into the 30's by the afternoon. Winds will be breezy over the mountains Saturday with continued mild conditions. A weak system will move across the Northern part of the state which will bring a slight chance of snow showers to the northwestern mountains. AVALANCHE HAZARD FOR THE TETON, TOGWOTEE PASS/CONTINENTAL DIVIDE AND GREYS RIVER/SOUTHWEST TRAILS AREASThe general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE on Saturday. Cooler overnight temperatures will stabilize the snowpack at the lower elevations and decrease the potential for wet loose slides. At the mid and upper elevations existing dense slabs will become less sensitive to human triggers, however the potential for skiers and snowmachines to trigger these slabs and suffer the consequences will remain. Backcountry users are advised to consult area specific forecasts issued every morning as new information may become available and unexpected weather can change conditions.