Togwotee Pass

The general avalanche hazard is CONSIDERABLE. New snow and strong westerly winds have created surface slabs to two foot depths in avalanche terrain. These soft to dense slabs are expected to be sensitive to riders and skiers today in very steep wind loaded terrain and once triggered could pull out deeper layers of snow to the base of the snowpack. A skier triggered and escaped from a one foot slab in steep terrain on Two Ocean Peak on Tuesday.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Continued snowfall and strong winds are expected into Thursday morning as colder air moves into the area. During the day winds and snowfall are expected to diminish as the flow weakens. An additional six to ten inches could fall by Thursday afternoon. Mountain temperatures are to start in the single digits in the morning before rising into the upper teens. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be High as strong winds continue to load avalanche starting zones. Unstable slabs lie on a variety of aspects and elevations in steep avalanche terrain. These slabs could have depths to four feet at the higher elevations where greater snowfall amounts fell and the strongest winds blew.