Togwotee Pass

The general avalanche hazard is MODERATE. New snow rests on slick sun crusts and soft slabs to a foot in depth could be human triggered on steep, avalanche-prone slopes below ridge tops or cliffs. Buried layers of weak snow persist in the snowpack holding the potential for humans to trigger deeper slab avalanches up to three feet in depth. Sunshine will rapidly warm the new snow and slides will be easier to trigger. Avoid steep, sunlit slopes in the afternoon. Below 8000 feet the snowpack is capped by thick crusts from below freezing temperatures and the snowpack is mostly stable.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Spotty light snow is expected across the region Wednesday with accumulations of one to two inches. Mountain temperatures will warm to or above freezing and snow may change to rain by afternoon at lower elevations. Winds will be westerly at 25 miles per hour.Backcountry users may find slabs to two feet in depth on steep, lee slopes at upper elevations. Although the slides will likely be very soft slabs or sloughs they have the potential to entrain enough snow to be dangerous. The avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE. At elevations below 8,000 feet avalanches are unlikley due to the thick crusts.