Avalanche forecast

Togwotee Pass

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
No rating
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Highlights

The snowpack on Togwotee Pass is shallow and weak but in most areas, there is no slab present. Persistent slabs avalanches involving the March snow will be isolated to steep wind loaded slopes above 9,000 feet. Due to the isolated location of these persistent slabs and no new snow this morning, the avalanche hazard is Low but could increase to Moderate this afternoon above 9,000 feet. Today, the impact of a winter storm may form shallow wind slabs on leeward slopes. Below 9,000 feet, the avalanche hazard will remain Low all day and avalanche activity will be limited to small slides on steep isolated terrain features. Riders and skiers should monitor the development of this storm and be aware of areas with a heightened hazard.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Snowfall since March 5 lies over crusts and weak faceted snow. Stability tests on these layers present the potential for failure, although there has been very little avalanche activity reported from this area due to the limited snowfall. In isolated locations where a slab lies over the weak snowpack, soft slab avalanches with depths of one to two feet could be triggered, and on wind load slopes, hard slabs could be triggered. It is important to evaluate the snow for this problem.

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Winds from the south, west, and north along with today’s snowfall could form wind slabs at the upper elevations in the afternoon. These wind slab avalanches are expected to be small with depths less than a foot on steep leeward terrain features. As winds change direction with the passing cold front, loading patterns could cross loaded slopes.

Avalanche Discussion

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )A winter storm will begin to impact the area tonight and last through tomorrow. Southerly to southwesterly winds will increase into the twenties and thirties with gusts into the forties. Light snow overnight will become widespread by early Sunday with the heaviest snowfall forecasted from 4 am through 2 pm. Accumulation is forecasted to be three to eight inches in the mountains with one to three inches in the valleys. Mountain temperatures will start in the low twenties and warm into the mid to upper twenties.While the avalanche hazard is expected to be Moderate in all three forecast areas tomorrow, the size and distribution of these slides vary in each zone. In the Grey’s River area, these slides have been reported daily and on steep avalanche terrain, large avalanches could be possible. In the Tetons, the distribution of large avalanches seems to be isolated to slopes that had a thin snowpack prior to the March snowfall. On Togwotee Pass, the poor structure is widespread but there are limited areas where a slab exists to complete the recipe for an avalanche. New wind and snow will increase the potential to trigger a persistent slab avalanche and form shallow wind slabs at the upper elevations. Backcountry travelers should monitor the development of the storm and be aware of areas with a heightened hazard.

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