At the mid and upper elevations pockets of new soft slab and loose snow sloughs could be human triggered in steep avalanche starting zones. Areas of heavy snowfall are possible during the day and will be increasing the hazard. Localized areas of greater hazard may develop in favored areas later in the day. Monitor conditions and avoid steep terrain that experience sustained intense snowfall rates.
At the mid and upper elevations westerly winds will create pockets of new soft slab up to 18 inches in depth. These surface slabs will lie upon crusts and firm old snow surfaces and could be human triggered in steep wind loaded avalanche starting zones. These slabs will gain depth and volume as the day progresses and could build to depths of two feet in localized areas.
Skies will be cloudy overnight and mostly to partly cloudy on Wednesday. Periods of light to moderate snowfall are likely overnight with accumulations of several inches possible at the higher elevations. Snow showers are likely in the morning and will become less likely in the afternoon. Temperatures will be in the teens and 20s in the mountains and in the 20s and 30s in the valleys. Winds will veer to the northwest and slowly decrease from average speeds of 25 to 20 to average speeds of 15 to 10 miles per hour.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE at the upper elevations where small pockets of dense wind slab could be triggered by humans who venture into steep avalanche starting zones. Some potential may persist for deeper hard slabs up to three feet deep to be triggered by snowmobiles in some upper elevation avalanche paths in the Togwotee Pass area. The avalanche hazard is expected to be LOW below an elevation of 8,500 feet.
