Clear skies overnight allowed snow surfaces to harden, however this morning's temperatures are close to freezing and those surfaces will soften early. Areas of unstable snow exist at the higher elevations. Large slab avalanches could still be triggered by skiers or riders who venture into steep avalanche starting zones. Sunshine and warm temperatures will increase the likelihood for humans to trigger these slab avalanches. Due to the warmup wet snow avalanches continue to be a potential hazard on steep sunlit slopes. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully and modify terrain objectives as conditions change. Avalanches are unlikely below an elevation of 8,000 feet.
At the higher elevations daytime warming will increase the chance for skiers and riders to trigger slab avalanches one to three feet in depth on steep, avalanche-prone slopes. Conservative terrain choices are warranted.
The cold front will pass though the region this evening and bring several inches of new snow to the mountains. An unstable northwest flow will ensue. Skies on Tuesday will be mostly cloudy with snow showers that will favor the west slope of the Teton Range and the west slope of the Continental Divide. Favored areas could receive several more inches of snow during the day. Temperatures will drop into the teens and 20s overnight and rise in to the 20s in the mountains and into the 30s in the valleys during the day. Winds will be from the west at 15 to 25 with gusts to 35 miles per hour.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE above an elevation of 9,000 feet. Up there skiers and riders could trigger pockets of wind slab 1 to 2 feet in depth. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be LOW below that elevation.
