Togwotee Pass

At the upper elevations isolated pockets of shallow wind slab formed by west-southwest winds could be triggered in steep wind loaded avalanche starting zones and step down 18 inches to a weak layer of buried surface hoar that lies upon a hard melt-freeze crust. Avalanches are unlikely below an elevation of 8,500 feet where snow depths are generally less than than a foot deep.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )A brief ridge of high pressure will result in a dry period through Friday with less wind and valley inversions. On Friday skies will be partly cloudy. Temperatures will rise into the 30s in the mountains and into the 40s in the valleys. Winds will be northwest to west at 5 to 15 miles per hour.At the upper elevations instabilities associated with the October melt-freeze crust persist in steep avalanche starting zones that face north. In addition strong west-southwest winds have created pockets of shallow wind slab on leeward aspects. The general avalanche hazard at the upper elevations is expected to be MODERATE. Humans who venture into steep avalanche starting zones and cliff areas could trigger slab avalanches up two feet in depth that could fail on a buried melt-freeze crust. Avalanches are unlikely below an elevation of 8,500 feet.