Togwotee Pass

The mountains received 4 to 6 inches of new snow by 5am. Several more inches are likely during the day. At the higher elevations this new snow has accumulated on crusts, settled old snow surfaces and areas of bare ground. 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. Any avalanches that occur will only involve this new snow and would fail on the new/old snow interface. Southwest winds may be forming isolated pockets of wind slab less than 12 inches in depth on the leeward side of the higher ridge crests. Human involvement in steep terrain with with a small slab avalanche could result in significant trauma. Avalanches hazards are not likely in areas where last night's snow has accumulated on bare ground. The general avalanche hazard is low above an elevation of 9,000 feet. Avalanche hazards are not expected to exist below that elevation.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Moisture embedded in a southwest flow will bring periods of heavy snowfall to the higher elevations overnight and into the morning hours. This flow regime should favor the highest elevations of the Tetons and Yellowstone National Park. Accumulations of 4 to 8 inches are possible before 2pm tomorrow in these favored areas. Temperatures at 10,000 feet will be in the 20’s and 30’s. Winds are expected to be from the west at 15 to 25 with gusts to 30 miles per hour.Avalanche hazards will be limited to isolated areas at the highest elevations.