Togwotee Pass

Updated at 1:51 PM...... AN AVALANCHE WARNING has been issued by the Bridger-Teton National Forest.......To begin immediately and last until 7 AM on Tuesday December 30, 2008........For the mountainous areas of Teton, Lincoln and Sublette Counties including Jackson Hole and Star Valley.........Rapidly warming temperatures today have greatly increased the avalanche hazard. This rapid increase in temperatures is causing large volumes of snow to release from roofs in urban areas. It has also increased the avalanche danger in the backcountry which was already HIGH. This morning avalanche hazard reduction efforts at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort triggered an avalanche in the Headwall Area that damaged a restaurant and caught four ski patrollers. No one was harmed. Dangerous unstable conditions exist in the mountains and in urban areas. Travel in the backcountry is not recommended and extreme caution should used around buildings with large volumes of snow on their roofs...................Morning Advisory..........The general avalanche hazard is CONSIDERABLE. Recent new snow lies upon an unstable base comprised of persistent weak layers of faceted snow and slick crusts. Saturday a skier died after being buried by an avalanche at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort despite rapid recovery. Dangerous slab avalanches up to four feet in depth are becoming increasingly sensitive to human triggers and could release naturally. Warm temperatures will also weaken the snowpack. Conservative decisions and good terrain evaluation and route finding skills are essential for safe travel in avalanche terrain.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )The westerly flow will continue to bring light to moderate snow to the region Monday. Accumulations by Monday evening are forecasted to be 6 to 12 inches in the mountains with deeper amounts in isolated areas. Southwest winds will slow some overnight then increase Monday morning and through the day to 35 mile per hour averages with gusts in the 50s. Overnight low temperatures will be in the upper teens and daytime highs in the twenties.Continued new snow and strong winds will maintain the general avalanche hazard at HIGH in the Tetons and Greys River/Southwest Trails areas. Large dangerous natural and human triggered avalanches are likely. TRAVEL IN AVALANCHE TERRAIN IS NOT RECOMMENDED.The general avalanche hazard in the Togwotee Pass/Continental Divide areas will be CONSIDERABLE. Dangerous human triggered slab avalanches and natural avalanche activity are possible. Conservative decisions regarding route selection are essential for safe travel in avalanche terrain.