JACKSON, Wyo. — A strong cold front will move across Teton County on Tuesday evening, resulting in a 2-3 hour period of significant travel impacts due to intense snowfall rates, strong winds, whiteout conditions and flash freezing on the roads.
The front is associated with a powerful storm that has produced significant snowfall over the Cascade and Sierra Nevada ranges from Washington to California in recent days.
Based on the lastest short-range weather models, the cold front will most likely cross the Idaho/Wyoming border sometime between 6-8 p.m. Once the front arrives, travel conditions will quickly deteriorate over the next couple of hours with the most significant impacts expected over Teton Pass. Snowfall rates of 2-3 inches per hour will be possible as the front moves through, which combined with gusty winds, may result in near whiteout conditions.
The Snake River Canyon and Jackson Hole Valley will also see significant travel impacts as the front arrives with heavy snow, strong winds, and quickly falling temperatures leading to the potential for “flash freezing” (when wet roads quickly turn to ice). Travel impacts will extend eastward over Togwotee Pass as well, though the timing will be a little later.
Please plan your travel accordingly and be extra careful if you’re out on the roads on Tuesday evening.
Alan Smith, Meteorologist
