Tetons

Travel on skis, sleds, or snowboards is limited by our shallow early season snow depths and is hazardous due to the potential to hit buried rocks and other obstacles. Avalanche hazards will be isolated and limited to steep terrain features at the higher elevations where the new snow lies upon old snow surfaces that formed earlier in the season. Today’s sunshine may cause some small, loose snow slides on sunlit cliff areas. West to southwest winds may have formed isolated pockets of shallow wind slab less than a foot in depth on the leeward aspects of the higher ridge crests. Due to the shallow snow depths any human interaction with an avalanche in steep terrain presents the potential for traumatic injury. At the mid and lower elevations shallow snow depths preclude avalanche hazards.

Another weak area of low pressure will bring moisture to the area starting mid-day Tuesday with upslope showers and colder temperatures following into Wednesday. This storm will be on the warm side to begin, but will remain an all snow event at the elevations that matter to skiers and riders. The Tetons will receive the most snow due to enhanced lift with four to six inches new snow likely by sunset tomorrow and 6-10” by the time the weather clears on Wednesday. Surrounding areas to the north and the Salt River and Wyoming Ranges to the south will see lesser accumulations. Two to four inches inches is likely with six inches possible at the highest elevations in total by Wednesday and perhaps half that amount by sunset tomorrow. A dusting of snow and some rain showers are possible at lower elevations. West and southwest wind will be in the 20 mph range with gusts near 35 mph possible tomorrow afternoon before relaxing on Wednesday.The snowpack at lower elevations and on southerly aspects remains thin with many anchors, and obstacles, at or near the surface. More sun sheltered and higher elevations have developed a more continuous bed surface following this last weather system. If you choose to ski or ride during or after this next storm, bear in mind these obstacles along with the possibility of triggering a slab up to 18” thick on the buried surface hoar or a thick wind slab in lee areas. Look for cracking in the new snow and dig to see if the surface hoar is a problem. The avalanche danger at upper elevations may rise to Moderate in the afternoon due to these avalanche problems and the possibility of triggering one a slab. Lower angled slopes will be a safer bet for good turns with reduced avalanche danger and fewer submerged rocks and logs.