Togwotee Pass

Temperature inversions strengthened overnight, and the mountains are starting out a few degrees warmer than yesterday. Recent avalanche activity in Western Wyoming has resulted in one fatality and one near miss. This is a good reminder that skiers and riders still have the potential to trigger small to large persistent slab avalanches in steep, avalanche prone terrain above 7,500 feet. Don’t let the weekend and blue skies impair your judgement; the consequences of being caught in one of these slides are likely to be severe. Below 7,500 feet, backcountry travelers might be able to trigger an isolated pocket of shallow slab in very steep terrain.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Expect mostly clear skies and inverted temperatures as high pressure resides over the region. Overnight lows in the mountains will be in the mid-teens before climbing into the mid to upper 20s during the day. Northeasterly to easterly ridgetop winds will range from 5 to 15 miles per hour.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be Moderate above 7,500 feet on Sunday. Weak layers of faceted snow in the form of buried near surface facets and surface hoar persist in the snowpack. Large grained, basal facets are also likely in areas with snow depths less than four feet. In steep terrain, the potential remains for skiers and riders to trigger slab avalanches failing on these weak layers to depths of one to three feet. Keep in mind that there is a significant amount of spatial variability associated with these weak layers both between and within forecast zones. Evaluate the snowpack often, and don’t assume that one snowpit will give you a representative picture of the avalanche hazard. Below 7,500 feet, backcountry travelers might be able to trigger an isolated pocket of shallow slab in very steep terrain.