The mountains have received over a foot of new snow during the past several days. At the higher elevations (above an elevation of 8,500 feet) humans could trigger soft slab and loose snow avalanches on steep slopes. Today's sunshine may also trigger loose snow slides on steep sunlit aspects. These slab avalanches and loose snow slides could be large enough to injure and/or bury a person. Conservative terrain choices are warranted given our current health care situation.
At the higher elevations humans could trigger slab avalanches formed by southwest to westerly winds. These slabs could be up to two feet deep and may become more sensitive to human triggers during the warmest portion of the day.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )A low-pressure trough along the west coast will sweep east through the region. Snow chances will be on the decrease and continue to favor the southern portion of our forecast area. Skies will be mostly to partly cloudy. Snow showers will be lighter. Temperatures will be in the teens tonight and rise into the upper 20's and 30's on Thursday. Westerly winds will become light and variable. Recent snow fall and winds have increased the hazard at the higher elevations of the Greys River area to moderate. Up there (above an elevation of 9,000 feet) soft slab avalanches up to 18 inches in depth could be human triggered on steep slopes. At the upper elevations of the Teton Range (9,000 to 10,500 feet) where the hazard has also been rated as moderate small slab avalanche 6 to 18 inches in depth could be human triggered on steep terrain features. Similar slabs can be human triggered in isolated pockets at the higher elevations of the Togwotee Pass area where the hazard is low. Periods of sunshine which are likely, especially in the afternoon, will cause sloughs that involve the recent new snow. The hazard is low below an elevation of 9,000 feet in the Teton and Greys River area. Please be careful and practice social distancing protocols, especially at trail heads.
