Togwotee Pass

The avalanche danger is starting out at Low in the majority of terrain today. In steep terrain above 9,000 feet the danger is Moderate and may rise to Considerable as temperatures warm. On steep, generally north facing slopes it is possible to trigger avalanches on weak layers buried 1-2 feet deep. Look for this avalanche problem type by digging down to check for loose, sugary snow grains. Bring your snow savvy today and you’ll find safer riding in dry soft snow on shaded, lower angled slopes and corn skiing on sunnier aspects that froze overnight. Leave your snow savvy at home and you may run into slow, but powerful wet loose avalanches or wet, wind slabs sitting on a slick melt freeze crust on lee ridgetops. Mind your aspects and avoid boot top wet snow, slopes generating large rollerballs and slopes beneath hanging cornices. The avalanche danger will rise to Considerable as temperatures warm with various types of human triggered avalanches becoming likely and natural avalanches possible.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Warming will continue to weaken the snowpack and send free water into deeper weak layers and down to the melt freeze crusts that exist in the upper snowpack. As dry snow becomes saturated, expect more and larger wet loose avalanches, and possibly some cornice failures. Large and dangerous natural avalanches one to three feet thick will be possible in all forecast zones in the afternoon tomorrow where slabs sit over the weak January layer. Human triggered avalanches will become likely in the afternoon as heating occurs at upper elevations in all forecast areas. The danger rating will rise to Considerable in the afternoon. Consider roller balls, loose wet avalanches and a saturated snow surface as warning signs that larger and more dangerous avalanches could occur.