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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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Snow is expected to fall for the remainder of the week. The National Weather service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory and a Hazardous Weather Outlook for the area from 2pm this afternoon until 8pm Thursday. New snow is falling on a snowpack that has several buried weak layers and is topped with newly formed surface hoar, near surface facets and in some south facing terrain, sun-crusts. Above 7500 feet, skiers and riders have the potential to trigger persistent slab avalanches. As new snow accumulates and temperatures rise, new shallow soft slabs will start to develop. Although not enough accumulation is expected today for a significant surface slab problem, monitor wind loaded starting zones this afternoon if accumulation rates increase. The snowpack below 7500 feet has poor structure but avalanche activity is not expected at the lower elevations today as slopes are just starting to be loaded.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3

    Poor snowpack structure is widespread on Togwotee Pass. Basal facets, near surface facets, surface hoar and crusts all persist persist in the snowpack. On a variety of aspects above 7,500 feet, skiers and riders continue to have the potential of triggering persistent slab avalanches that could have depths of one to three feet. Large triggers, such as snowmobiles, are more likely to initiate one of these slabs.

Avalanche Discussion

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )The first of a series of systems will move across the area tonight and tomorrow. This first system is weak and accumulations are to be light with just a few inches expected by 5pm Wednesday. Temperatures are to remain cool, with temperatures at 9000 feet starting in the single digits and rising into the upper teens. Southwest winds are to have averages between ten and twenty miles per hour. The general avalanche will be Moderate in all forecast areas. Be mindful that Moderate covers a wide range of conditions between a stable snowpack in which avalanches are not expected (Low hazard) to a snowpack that is being impacted by weather to such an extent that natural activity is possible and human triggered slides are likely (Considerable hazard). The Teton area is on the low range of Moderate, however, slabs can still be human triggered, particularly in and around cliff areas, as happened today. It is still recommended to avoid high consequence terrain where small slides could cause serious injury or death. In the Togwotee Pass and even more so in the Southwest Trails areas, weak layer distribution is more widespread and more unstable areas remain susceptible to human triggers, particularly to larger loads such as snow machines. Above 7500 feet slab depths could reach as much as 5 feet in the Southwest Trails area and four feet in the Teton and Togwotee Pass areas. Below 7500 feet avalanches are currently unlikely, however the snowpack on lower slopes is weak and could become active with new loading.

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