Avalanche forecast

Togwotee Pass

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Continued warm temperatures above freezing last night will make wet avalanches possible today. These could behave as wet loose or slab avalanches that are more likely once the sun impacts and destabilizes the snow on steep terrain. Plan to exit the mountains early if you encounter slushy/unsupportable snow and limit your exposure to overhead avalanche terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Wet Slabs

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

    Well above average day/night-time temperatures for the last 24 hours will continue to create unstable avalanche conditions. An incoming cold front with cooling temperatures by the afternoon should help slow the snow from destabilizing as quickly as previous days. Keep the following avalanche problems in mind while traveling in and around avalanche terrain. 

    Wet slabs 1-3 feet deep may be triggered, or released naturally, on steep terrain as water moves through the snowpack. These avalanches can behave in unpredictable ways with little warning, and tend to occur during peak warming in the afternoon. Most wet slabs have occurred on easterly aspects from 8,500-10,000’. 

    Wet loose avalanches are easier 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 can also trigger larger, more destructive wet slabs.

    Cornice falls are possible as the snowpack destabilizes. 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.

    (3/20/2026)

    A rider triggered and was critically buried by this wet slab avalanche near Spread Creek on Friday, March 20. 

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Slopes that have not undergone drastic warming over the last week still contain weak snow buried 1-2 feet deep. This exists on very steep slopes sheltered from the sun above 9,000’. The chance of triggering is low, but diligent snowpack assessment is advised if traveling in consequential terrain.

Avalanche Discussion

A Very Warm Week

The forecast area has experienced more abnormal conditions this last week on top of an already abnormal winter. Overnight temperatures remained above freezing for multiple nights, and only dropped to the mid to low 30s at all weather stations last night (even above 10k). Snow surfaces likely experienced a surficial refreeze. Greenhousing could have occurred in the northern zones due to overnight cloud cover reducing the surficial refreeze. The incoming cold front today could help the snowpack from rapidly destabilizing. Clearing skies and strong solar radiation will still impact slopes directly facing the sun. Pay attention to snow surfaces today and plan to exit or move to shaded terrain if you experience the top portion of the snow becoming wet and unsupportable. Unsupportable snow above your boot top is a clear sign of unstable snow and the potential for wet loose or slab avalanches. 

A solid refreeze through the whole snowpack will be necessary to eliminate the possibility of wet slab avalanches. Water is still percolating through the snowpack. Surficial freezes on the snow surface reduces the chance of impacting the lower snowpack. As already mentioned, wet slabs are difficult to predict. Error on the side of caution while traveling in terrain today to account for the uncertainty of wet slabs. Fingers crossed that temperatures cool off as forecasted. 

Snowpack Update

Snow depths at mountain weather stations have melted 10-15 inches over the last week and 2-3 inches yesterday alone. Cooling temperatures should decrease snowmelt this next week. The significantly widespread dust layer currently on the snow surface has exacerbated snowmelt. Dust particles help absorb rather than reflect heat. Lower elevations are now bare of snow in many areas, making access to terrain more difficult. This is far from normal for this time of year in this area.

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