Togwotee Pass

The General Avalanche Hazard is MODERATE. The greatest hazard exist east of and along the Continental Divide in areas with greater impacts from the strong winter storm to the east. Strong east winds have formed new soft surface slabs up to two feet deep. Older hard slabs up to three feet in depth exist and lie upon buried weak layers of faceted snow. Yesterday a skier triggered a sof surface slab on a north facing treed slope on Angle Mountain. These new soft slabs and older hard slabs could be triggered by skiers and snowmobilers who venture onto steep wind loaded slopes. Steep gullies and terrain traps should be avoided.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )A major winter storm will impact southern and central Wyoming. The western mountains will experience cloudy skies and light to moderate snowfall with several inches of accumulation likely. The southern end of the Wyoming and Salt River Ranges and areas east of the Continental Divide could see significantly greater snowfall amounts. Mountain temperatures will be in the teens. Ridge crest winds will be generally east to southeast at 10 to 20 with areas to the south and east seeing speeds of 30 to 35 with gusts to 50 miles per hour. The general avalanche hazard above 7,500 feet is expected to be MODERATE, however areas to the south and east that experience significantly greater snowfall amounts and stronger winds may have CONSIDERABLE hazard. Below 7,500 feet the hazard is expected to be LOW.