Togwotee Pass

Abundant sunshine and warming temperatures will heat up snow surfaces as the day progresses. This warming will first increase the likelihood of triggering recently developed wind slabs up to a foot deep in steep, wind-loaded terrain above 8,500 feet. As the day continues to warm, the chance for wet slides involving the recent snowfall will develop on sunlit aspects. While avalanche activity is likely to initially be small, a significant amount of snow could be entrained by these slides in long, steep chutes and couloirs. The emergence of rollerballs and pinwheels will be good indicators that it is time to seek out cooler terrain. The daily morning avalanche nowcasts will conclude on Sunday for the 2016-2017 winter season.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Expect a few scattered snow showers to linger overnight before a ridge of high pressure moves into the region on Saturday bringing clearing skies. Overnight lows in the mountains will be in the upper teens before rapidly climbing into the mid to upper 30s during the day. Northwesterly ridgetop winds will veer to the east at 10 to 20 miles per hour.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be LOW Saturday morning before rising to MODERATE as sunshine and warm temperatures heat up snow surfaces. On sunlit aspects at the higher elevations, the chance to trigger pockets of recently developed shallow wind slab will increase with daytime warming. The threat of shallow wet slides involving the recent snowfall will return on sun affected slopes as the day heats up. Rollerballs and pinwheels, which will be early clues to this increasing hazard, are good indicators that it is time to seek out cooler terrain. Saturday will be the final Western Wyoming Evening Forecast for the 2016-2017 winter season, and the daily morning nowcasts will conclude on Sunday.