Avalanche forecast

Togwotee Pass

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
No rating
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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Minimal wet avalanche activity is expected today thanks to cold temperatures last night. It will still be important to watch for wet loose avalanches if the snow becomes slushy and unsupportable by the afternoon. Move to more shaded terrain or plan to start and end your day early to manage the uncertainty of the snow becoming unstable.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Temperatures finally dropped below freezing after three consecutive nights above freezing. A firm crust has likely formed as a result making wet avalanche activity less of a concern as previous days. Light wind, increasing temperatures, and solar input from the sun could break down these crusts quicker than anticipated by the afternoon. If you experience the snow destabilizing, it will be important to acknowledge that wet loose avalanches could be triggered by skiers and riders. 

    Wet loose avalanches are relatively easy to predict and occur as snow surfaces soften and become slushy/unsupportable. These can start small and entrain large amounts of snow on sustained, steep terrain. They are more likely around rock features that heat surrounding snow surfaces. 

    Cornice falls are possible as these will take a longer time to fully freeze. Cornices are notorious for breaking further back than expected, so give them a wide margin. Limit exposure beneath large cornices as these can also trigger large slab avalanches.

    Fresh rollerballs and pinwheels are a sign of the snow destabilizing. 

    Photo: Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

Finally, A Freeze!

Temperatures dropped into the low 20s and high teens all night long (°F). This will allow a solid freeze of snow surfaces, decreasing the chance of triggering wet avalanches that have been a concern for the last week. The snowpack will not instantly heal overnight. Consecutive nights of cold temperatures will be necessary to freeze the entire snowpack that was saturated with an abundance of liquid water. 

The caveat today will be whether the surface crust breaks down quicker than anticipated. A little more wind or cloud cover would create higher confidence in more stable conditions. Temperatures could climb to the high 30s and low 40s. Due to the uncertainty in the weather forecast, it will be important to monitor the snow and choose your terrain accordingly. The snowpack has undergone rapid destabilization in the last week. Conditions last night and today should keep the snowpack more stable. Fingers crossed that temperatures continue to freeze overnight. 

We have dropped the persistent slab problem from the forecast as large fluctuations in temperatures have helped heal the snowpack. This is mainly due to well-above average temperatures for the last week. The weak layers formed during the month-long drought in January have become unreactive as a result.

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