Tetons

The General Avalanche Hazard is CONSIDERABLE at Upper elevations and MODERATE at Mid elevations. The storm ending Monday night created slabs to 18 inches in depth on steep, lee slopes.The slabs rest on firm, smooth crusts from the warm, dry March weather. Yesterday several slides were started by backcountry travellers on North to Southeast aspects south of the Jackson Hole Resort. At least three people were caught and carried in different slides but no burials were reported. On all exposures the crusts below the new snow will make a good sliding surface and slabs and sloughs will rapidly entrain more snow and travel further than usual. Any sun breaks will allow the strong April sun to rapidly warm the snow, making slabs easier to release and skier and naturally triggered loose, then wet-loose slides will be likely on sunlit aspects. At Low elevations the Hazard is LOW as little snow remains.

Skies are expected to clear on Thursday, after a fast moving system passing through during the night potentially deposits an inch of snow in the mountains and light rain at the base. Mountain temperatures are to rise into the forties during the afternoon after falling to into the mid twenties during the evening. Winds are expected to be light on Thursday.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be Moderate in the upper elevations where the chance remains for human triggered slab avalanches to two feet in depth in steep wind loaded terrain. Rising temperatures will increase the sensitivity of these slabs as well as provide for the possibility of small wet slides. At lower elevations where little new snow fell and the old snowpack is shallow or non-existent, the hazard is expected to be LOW in the morning and may rise to Moderate in the afternoon as the potential for wet slides increases.