Togwotee Pass

The snowpack is generally stable. Today temperatures hovering around freezing along with cloudy skies and moderate to strong winds are expected to keep the snowpack above 8,000 feet from becoming wet. Depending on the snowfall amounts and wind speeds, it may be possible for backcountry travelers to trigger small wind slab avalanches above 9,000 feet in the late afternoon. These slabs could be 4 to 8 inches deep and may have consequences in extreme terrain. Below 8,000 feet, where temperatures did not freeze, the snowpack is unconsolidated, but due to the many days of melt-freeze cycles, no avalanche activity is expected.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )An upper-level trough approaching from the north is expected to bring a strong cold front to the region by tomorrow afternoon. Light snowfall should develop overnight and increase tomorrow with accumulations of 3 to 6 inches by the evening. In the afternoon, there will be a chance of isolated thunderstorms. Temperatures will be much colder than the previous few days with mountains in the low to upper 20s and valleys in the 30s to low 40s. Westerly winds are expected to be 15 to 30 miles per hour and increase in the late afternoon as the cold front passes. The snowpack is generally stable and the avalanche hazard is expected to be low tomorrow. Toward the end of the day, new snow and moderate winds may form small wind slabs on leeward slopes at the upper elevations. By the afternoon, it may be possible for backcountry travelers to triggered slab avalanches 4 to 8 inches deep in very steep terrain at the upper elevations. This hazard depends on the amount of snowfall and wind speeds associated with the passing front.