Avalanche forecast

Togwotee Pass

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
No rating
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Highlights

A poor overnight freeze, mostly sunny skies, and abnormally warm temperatures will create dangerous avalanche conditions later today. The avalanche danger will begin at Low and rise to Considerable as the day warms and the snowpack loses strength. Large and destructive wet snow avalanches could release naturally once snow surfaces become slushy and unsupportable. Plan to be out of the mountains early to minimize your exposure and avoid lingering under steep, sunny slopes. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wet Slabs

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

    Very warm temperatures for this time of year and poor overnight freezes continue to keep wet snow avalanches on the table today despite some cooling from windy conditions. Here’s what to watch out for.

    • Wet slabs 1-3 feet deep may be triggered, or release naturally, as the day warms and surface crusts break down. These avalanches are most likely on slopes that see prolonged periods of sun and tend to occur later in the day. Wet slabs can fail with little warning and have the potential to be large and destructive. So far, most wet slabs have occurred on east facing slopes from 8,500 - 10,000 feet. 
    • Triggering a wet loose avalanche will be likely once snow surfaces soften and become slushy/unsportable. These avalanches may start small, but can entrain a significant amount of snow. They can also trigger larger, more destructive wet slabs.
    • Cornice failure is also possible given the warm temperatures and is another good way to trigger a large slab avalanche. Give these features a healthy margin.

    Plan to be out of avalanche terrain early in the day to minimize your exposure to wet snow avalanches. Unsupportable or “punchy” wet snow on the surface is a warning sign that should not be ignored.

    (3/22/2026)

    A natural wet slab on Barbers Point

    East facing at 9,500'.

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    The chances of triggering an avalanche failing on weak snow buried 1-2 feet deep are low, but can’t be ruled out just yet. Very steep, sheltered areas that face north above 9,000 feet is where this problem exists. Riders have the greatest chances of impacting buried weak layers later in the day when crusts have broken down and the snow surface is soft. Diligent snowpack evaluation and/or steering clear of suspect terrain are the best ways to manage this problem.

Avalanche Discussion

Overnight temperatures only dropped to the upper 30s and low 40s in the upper elevations. Mostly clear skies allowed for thin crusts to develop at the snow surface despite the above freezing temperatures. Today is forecasted to be another record breaking warm day across western Wyoming. Thin surface crusts that developed last night will likely break down quickly with solar input and very warm temps. Windy conditions may hold things together for longer on exposed, upper elevation slopes, but sheltered terrain will take on heat quickly. Stability will decrease as crusts melt and the snowpack rapidly loses strength. 

Liquid water has made its way over 3 feet deep into the snowpack on solar aspects from a week of melt. Snow depths have been decreasing by 2-3 inches per day, most of which can be attributed to melt. Water has pooled on various layers including weak snow that formed during the January drought. Wet slab avalanches breaking at these depths were reported on Sunday 3/22 at the tail end of a particularly warm period. The potential for these types of avalanches will increase again today. North facing terrain is still holding mostly dry snow with liquid water only moving through the top 4-6 inches or so of the snowpack. Thus, wet avalanches are less of a concern on north faces. Plan your day to account for the significant warming and build in some margin of safety given the amount of liquid water moving through the snowpack. 

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