Togwotee Pass

The general avalanche hazard is MODERATE. Soft slabs one to three feet in depth lie upon a base of weak faceted snow and remain sensitive to human triggers. In isolated areas, like the east face of Lava Mountain, deeper hard slabs persist. These dangerous slabs are sensitive to human triggers and caution is advised on and beneath steep slopes that have not experienced recent avalanche activity.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )A cool northeast flow aloft will be over the western mountains and valleys of Wyoming tonight through Saturday. Light snowfall, with accumulations of about an inch or so, are possible along the crest and on the east slope of the Continental Divide overnight. On Friday skies are expected to be partly cloudy. Temperatures will rise into the 20s from overnight lows near 10 degrees. Winds will be east to northeast at five to 15 miles per hour. The general avalanche hazard is expected to MODERATE. Deep hard slabs up to five feet in depth persist in steep avalanche paths that did not slide during the last storm cycle. The potential for humans to trigger these slabs exists but is slowly decreasing. These slabs may be crossed multiple times before a weak spot is hit and the slab fails. For this reason tracks are not an indication of stability. Snowmachines are heavier than skiers and typically cut deeper into the slabs and therefore are more likely to trigger a deep hard slab avalanche. Caution is advised as the consequences of triggering one of these slabs is likely to be severe.