Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 8 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Strong wind and new snow will make triggering an avalanche likely on steep, wind-loaded upper elevation terrain. Watch for deeper and more unstable wind drifted snow the higher you climb in elevation. Although less likely, the threat of triggering a very large avalanche exists in very steep terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Strong southwest wind combined with up to 8 inches of snow today will form wind-drifted soft slabs up to 2 feet deep. Watch for fresh slabs formed on steep slopes exposed to the wind. These will be more widespread in the upper elevations, but could exist in isolated terrain in the middle elevations. The most dangerous conditions will exist in alpine terrain above treeline.

    (12/27/2025)

    Shooting cracks are a clear sign of unstable snow. 

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1.5–3

    Multiple weak layers combined with crusts are buried beneath hard slabs anywhere from 2-6 feet deep. These avalanches have become less reactive over the last week as temperature fluctuations have promoted healing. Additional stress added by new snow and wind today will increase the potential of triggering these avalanches. Complex terrain on wind loaded slopes over 35° are most suspect where large triggers such as cornice falls or new snow avalanches could initiate a very large avalanche deeper in the snowpack. Signs of instability may not be present. 

    (12/31/2025)

    A large persistet slab avalanche observed after the Christmas storm cycle in very steep, complex terrain. 

Avalanche Discussion

Weather conditions changed last night with the onset of the incoming storm. Expect elevated avalanche danger in upper elevations due to the strong intensity of wind transporting new and old snow. Avalanche danger will increase throughout the day as more snow builds larger wind slabs. Look for obvious signs of instability such as large drift, pillows, and shooting cracks. 

Deeper in the snowpack there are multiple weak layers that have shown the potential for producing large avalanches. A crust formed on Christmas is buried around 2 feet deep and has produced recent avalanches in very steep terrain of adjacent forecast zones. Weak snow exists above this crust, but it does not exist everywhere. Use caution assessing slopes carefully to determine where these weak layers are a serious concern. 

Another crust formed December 10th is buried around 3 feet deep and has not seen avalanche activity since before the New Year.  Near the base of the snowpack, weak facets from November are only a concern in isolated upper elevation where snow remained dry through December. All these weak layers are trending less reactive as the overlying slab gains strength. However, these weak layers still need more time to fully heal.

Regions covered