Avalanche forecast

Togwotee Pass

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
No rating
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Highlights

Human triggered avalanches are possible at all elevations in the Togwotee Zone today. Areas where the wind has stiffened the new snow into slabs that overlie slick crusts and buried weak layers are the primary concern. Pay attention to signs of instability such as audible collapsing of the snowpack and cracking within wind affected snow. Use your shovel to dig into the snowpack and determine whether weak snow or crusts are present below the new snow on the slopes you plan to ski or ride. 

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Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Togwotee picked up 20 inches of snow from February 19-23. Westerly winds prevailed at the beginning of the storm cycle but veered to the North and eventual the East by the end of the cycle. This has resulted in wind slabs that are generally 12-16 inches deep on a variety of aspects, but could be up to 3 feet deep in favored locations. On the northern half of the compass these slabs are failing on a density change within the new snow or on the new snow/old snow interface (Feb 18). On the southern half of the compass these slabs are failing on a slick crust at the new snow/old snow interface (Feb 18). These slabs could be both soft (4f) and hard (1f). Wind pressing from easterlies at the end of the storm as stiffened slabs on unusual aspects. 

    Pay attention to signs of instability such as cracking within wind drifted snow. 

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–3

    Prior to the most recent storm, snow surfaces at Togwotee were either weak and faceted or crusted (Feb 18). These layers are now buried and serve as possible failure planes for avalanches. In addition to the most recent buried weak layers, poor structure exists much deeper in the snowpack. Weak basal structure exists on most aspects (near the ground). This structure is made up of depth hoar from October snow and well developed facets from the mid November dry spell. An avalanche failing on one of these deep layers is unlikely but the consequences would be severe, with slab depths that are 3-5 feet deep. 

    Pay attention to signs of instability such as audible collapsing of the snowpack. Your best line of defense against a persistent slab problem is to dig a snowpit in a representative location and perform some stability tests such as an Extended Column Test. 

Avalanche Discussion

Togwotee has picked up a trace to 1 inch of snow in the last 24 hrs, with most of that snowfall occuring in the early morning hours yesterday. A closed low off of the California/Oregon coast will spin up small amounts of moisture into western Wyoming today in a SW flow. Scattered snow showers are expected today with some possible windows of sunshine in the afternoon. Winds will be out of the SW gusting into the 30s. Temperatures will reach the upper teens on the peaks and mid twenties in the valleys. 

Easterly winds on the back side of the most recent storm have stripped many aspects along the highway corridor on Togwotee and deposited snow in unusal locations. Considerable cornice blow back has occured on East through North aspects. At the upper elevations westerly winds at the beginning of the storm stripped many westerly aspects and severely loaded easterly aspects. This has resulted in hard wind slabs at the upper elevations that are difficult to trigger. These slabs could be 3 feet deep or more, and they could overlie weak snow that developed earlier in the season. 

 

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