Tetons

Areas of unstable snow exist at the mid and upper elevations. Six to eighteen inch slabs, which lie upon a mostly stable snowpack, could be triggered by backcountry travelers venturing into steep, wind-loaded starting zones. At the low elevations avalanches are unlikely except in isolated pockets. A powerful winter storm will start to impact the region by early afternoon. New snowfall, strong southwest winds, and warming temperatures at the lower elevations will increase the hazard at all elevations later in the day. SPECIAL INFORMATION UPDATE: The Wyoming Department of Transportation will close Teton Pass (Hwy 22) at 3 am Monday for avalanche control. Forecasted poor visibility may delay the re-opening time. Hoback Canyon will be closed at 8 am Monday for control work.

A strong pulse of moisture from the southwest will move over the area Sunday night bringing strong winds and up to 14 inches of snow to the Teton and Togwotee Pass areas and up to 18 inches to the Greys River area by late Monday. 10,000 foot southwest winds are forecasted to average in the 50 m.p.h. range with gusts in the 70s. A cold upper trough will pass over the region by noon Monday tapering off snowfall rates but lighter snow and strong winds will continue.Very strong winds and rapid snowfall rates will build easily triggered slabs on lee slopes Sunday night through Monday up to three feet in depth. The possibility of triggering deeper slabs that rest on weak, faceted layers will increase in the Greys and Togwotee areas with the new snowfall. The avalanche danger is expected to rise to Considerable or higher in the Teton and Togwotee Pass areas. In the GreysRiver/Southwest Trails area the danger is expected to be High.