Togwotee Pass

The general avalanche hazard is Moderate above 8500'. New dense surface slabs lie on a variety of snow surface and could be triggered to one foot depths in steep wind loaded areas. These slabs could step down to total depths of two feet in high terrain where early season crusts persist at the base of the snowpack.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Snow is expected tonight, with periods of snow to continue through Saturday. Temperatures are to be similar to today with the snow line likely reaching the valley floor overnight and then rising into the lower elevations on Saturday. Summit winds are to be Southwesterly with twenty to thirty mile per hour averages.The avalanche hazard is expected to be Moderate on Saturday above 9000 feet. Slabs that currently lie upon hard crusts and faceted snow near the base of the snowpack will become more susceptible to failure as the new warm snow places additional loads on them. Backcountry travelers are most likely to trigger this type of activity in northerly facing terrain that is very steep and wind loaded.