Avalanche forecast

Tetons

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Dangerous avalanche conditions exist. In steep terrain at the mid and upper elevations, backcountry travelers are likely to trigger small to large wind slabs. Skiers and riders could also trigger loose snow sluffs on a variety of aspects and elevations. While these slides could kill you, persistent deep slab avalanches present a much higher concern. These large to very large slabs could be triggered on a variety of aspects and elevations, travel down into low elevation terrain, and involvement will likely have fatal consequences. The easiest way to avoid these slides is to stay off of, and out from under, terrain that has slope angles greater than 30 degrees. Choosing to travel in steeper terrain will require conservative route finding and expert snowpack evaluation skills. As the day warms, any extended periods of sunshine will increase the likelihood of avalanche activity as the sun impacts the new snow for the first time. This is more of a factor at the lower elevations where temperatures are warmer. Monitor warming conditions and cloud cover, and transition to shaded terrain if snow surfaces start to become damp.

Avalanche problems

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

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

    Since early Friday morning, up to 2.0 inches of snow water equivalent has been added to persistent weak layers deeply buried in the snowpack, and some slopes have reached their tipping point. Others are just waiting for a trigger. These persistent deep slabs are likely to range in depth from 4 to 8 feet at the mid and upper elevations and 2 to 4 feet deep at the lower elevations. These deadly slabs could also step down from the release of a wind slab or occur naturally.

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Since early Friday morning, 18 to 36 inches of light density snow has accumulated in the Tetons. Southwesterly to northwesterly ridgetop winds with hourly averages ranging from 15 to 30 miles per hour accompanied this snowfall, and wind slabs have formed in leeward terrain. Skiers and riders could easily trigger these slabs with depths ranging from 1 to 4 feet in steep, wind loaded terrain. Natural activity will also be possible.

Avalanche Discussion

Northerly flow aloft will back to the northwest, and the jet stream will drop down from the north and be overhead on Monday. Skies will be mostly cloudy to overcast, and light snowfall will be possible tonight and throughout the day tomorrow. Mountain temperatures won’t drop much overnight before climbing into the low 20s in the afternoon. Northwesterly ridgetop winds will back to the west at 20 to 30 miles per hour.Dangerous avalanche conditions will continue, and the general avalanche hazard is expected to remain Considerable on Monday. Strong winds will continue to stiffen and increase the depth of wind slabs, and backcountry travelers could easily trigger these small to large slabs in steep, wind loaded terrain. While these wind slabs could easily kill you, persistent deep slab avalanches almost certainly will. On a variety of aspects and elevations, skiers and riders have the potential to trigger these large to very large slabs failing on persistent weak layers deeply buried in the snowpack. They could also step down from the release of a wind slab or occur naturally. If you want to play it safe, stay off of and out from underneath slopes greater than 30 degrees. Otherwise, very cautious route finding and expert snowpack evaluations skills will be a requirement for safe travel in avalanche terrain.

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