Togwotee Pass

The general avalanche hazard is MODERATE. Yesterday's storm brought 5 to 12 inches of new light density snow to the region and favored the west slope of the Continental Divide in the Togwotee Pass area. The new snow fell upon weak and slick old snow surfaces. Winds were westerly when the storm began and quickly veered to the north and then to the east. Humans who venture onto steep avalanche prone slopes could trigger new soft slabs 8 to 16 inches in depth and loose snow sluffs.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Cold air is filtering into the area as the storm system continues to move south. Lingering snow showers are expected to end overnight. Clearing skies are forecast for Thursday. Temperatures are expected to drop to 10 below zero in the valleys and to near zero in the mountains overnight. Daytime highs will rise into the lows teens. Winds will gradually decrease after midnight to five to 10 miles per hour by morning and remain light and back to the northwest during the day.Humans who venture into steep avalanche starting zones with fresh deposits of wind-blown snow could trigger pockets of soft slab 8 to 16 inches in depth. Loose snow sluffs could also be human triggered on steep slopes that were not affected by the winds. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE at the upper elevations (9,000 to 10,500 feet) and LOW at the mid and lower elevations. Low hazard does not mean there will be no hazard. At the mid and lower elevations humans could trigger loose snow sluffs and isolated pockets of soft slab up to a foot deep on steep avalanche prone slopes.