Togwotee Pass

The general avalanche hazard is CONSIDERABLE, and will increase during the day as new snow and strong winds form soft slabs and add weight to existing weak layers. Two avalanche problems exist. First, backcountry travelers could trigger new soft slabs developing during the day to one foot in depth on steep, wind-loaded slopes. Second, deeper hard slabs, 2 to 5 feet in depth persist. More substantial triggers such as snowmobiles, large groups, or surface slides steeping down may be needed to initiate these hard slabs. Serious consequences could result if caught in one of these hard slab avalanches. Natural avalanche activity will become possible later in the day.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )The next weather system will begin to impact the region towards midnight, and then intensify during the day on Monday. One to three inches of new snow are expected by tomorrow morning, followed by up to eight inches during the day on Monday. Westerly ridgecrest winds at 10 to 20 miles per hour are forecasted to back to the southwest and increase to 20 to 30 during the height of the storm. Overnight lows in the mountains will be around 10 degrees Fahrenheit before rising in to the teens during the day.The general avalanche hazard is expected to remain CONSIDERABLE on Monday morning, then increase during the day as new snow and winds create soft slabs while adding weight to existing weak layers. The primary concern will be surface slabs up to two feet in depth. Deeper hard slabs could be triggered by snowmobiles, large groups, or surface slabs stepping down. These hard slabs are more difficult to initiate, but carry much higher consequences for backcountry travelers who get caught.