Tetons

Overnight temperatures remained above freezing to 10,000 feet. Due to the repeated melt-freeze cycles and heavy snow or rain events this spring, the snowpack is very consolidated and mostly stable. Remember that low hazard does not mean no hazard exists and isolated wet loose slides are possible today, particularly this afternoon, in very steep terrain features as the snow surface further weakens. Identify these isolated features where weaker snow lies to best manage this avalanche problem. Terrain above an elevation of 10,500 feet is above of the upper range and scope of this general avalanche bulletin and greater danger is likely to be found there.

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning beginning tonight at 6 PM and continuing through 6 AM on Sunday. A strong Pacific low pressure system will bring mountain snow and valley rain to the region beginning this evening and continuing through the day on Saturday. Overnight, the rain line will drop to around 7,500 feet, and by Saturday evening 10 to 15 inches of heavy, wet snow could accumulate in the higher elevations of the Tetons and Southwest Trails area. Lesser amounts are anticipated in the Togwotee Pass forecast zone. Overnight lows in the mountains will be in the low 20s before rising into the upper 20s during the day. In the valleys, temperatures could drop to near freezing by the early morning hours before climbing into the low 40s in the afternoon. Southwesterly ridgetop winds will range from 10 to 20 miles per hour.The general avalanche hazard could increase to MODERATE in the mountains on Saturday if forecasted snowfall amounts are accurate. There, skiers and riders could trigger pockets of newly developed soft slab and loose snow sluffs in steep, avalanche-prone terrain. Any slab development will form upon a warm snowpack. As the day progresses, the hazard will increase as these slabs gain depth and volume. Monitor snowfall amounts and avoid steep terrain with obvious signs of wind loading. The lower elevation snowpack, which has undergone numerous melt-freeze cycles and rain events, is mostly resistant to wet slides even with valley rain in the forecast.