Lawinenlagebericht

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Wed
Hochgebirge
2 · Mässig
Waldgrenze
2 · Mässig
Unterhalb
1 · Gering
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Kernpunkte

Temperatures are expected to remain abnormally warm despite some cloud cover and wind today. The avalanche danger will begin at Low and rise to Moderate as the day warms. Large and destructive wet snow avalanches will be possible once snow surfaces become soft and unsupportable. Plan to be out of the mountains early to minimize your exposure and avoid lingering under steep, sunny slopes.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Wet Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1.5–2.5

    Abnormally warm temperatures and poor overnight freezes are keeping wet snow avalanches on the table today despite some cloud cover and increasing wind. 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. 
    • Wet loose avalanches will become a concern 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.

    (3/19/2026)

    Natural wet slab avalanche failing on an easterly slope at 9,800 feet in the Salt River Range.

    Photo: Matt Brown

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Unlikely
    Größe
    1.5–2

    The chances of triggering an avalanche failing on weak snow buried 1-2 feet deep is unlikely, 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

Today’s weather will play tug of war with regard to wet snow avalanche potential. On one side, temperatures did not drop below freezing last night. Combine that with some cloud cover and surface crusts are likely to be thin and not that well developed. Very warm air temperatures for this time of year are also expected today and should work to melt snow surfaces. On the other side, about 30-50% cloud cover is expected through the afternoon and should limit warming. Moderate winds will also cool snow surfaces up high. Timing the softening of snow surfaces will depend on how much sun and wind slopes receive. Despite the suppressed warming today, there is still a lot of meltwater moving though the snowpack on solar aspects (east - south). Here, liquid water had made it over 3 feet deep in the snowpack. Water has pooled on various layers including weak snow that formed during the January drought. Wet slab avalanches breaking at these depths have been reported in the last 48 hours. The potential for these types of avalanches will increase today once surface crusts melt and the snowpack loses strength. North facing terrain is still holding mostly dry snow with liquid water only moving through the top 6 inches or so of the snowpack. Thus, wet avalanches are less of a concern on north faces. Plan your day to account for some degree of warming and build in some margin of safety given the amount of liquid water moving through the snowpack.

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