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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Highlights

Dangerous avalanche conditions, involving snow from the recent storm as well as deeper persistent weak layers, exist at all elevations with the larger slab depths favoring the upper elevations. Skiers and riders could trigger small to very large slab avalanches. At the tail-end of the most recent storm on January 5, many large slab avalanches occurred naturally. Cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making are essential for safe backcountry travel.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Above 8,500 feet on wind loaded terrain features, wind slabs one to two feet in depth could be triggered by skiers and riders. Evidence of many large natural wind slabs at the upper elevations have been reported. These slabs formed over a variety of snow surfaces including crusts and facets. Careful evaluation of wind loaded areas in steep avalanche prone terrain is important to avoid a dangerous encounter with these surface slabs.

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    The most recent storm that ended on the afternoon of January 5 added three inches of snow water equivalent to the upper elevation snowpack and increases the stress on persistent weak layers. This additional load accompanied by moderate to strong winds resulted in natural avalanches with crown depths to five feet. At the lower elevations and in areas with a thin snowpack, there is very poor structure below the new snow, and small slab avalanches could be easily triggered with depths to two feet.

Avalanche Discussion

Light snowfall will taper off by midnight. Friday will be dry. Temperatures will start out in the upper single digits and low teens and rise into the upper teens and 20’s. West-northwest winds will be light.Small to very large persistent slab avalanches can be triggered by the weight of a single person on avalanche prone slopes. These slabs could be one to two feet deep in the areas with a shallow snowpack and 2 to 4 feet deep in areas with a deeper snowpack. In the Teton and Greys River areas the general avalanche hazard is expected to be considerable above an elevation of 7,500 feet and moderate below that elevation. In the Togwotee Pass area the hazard is expected to be moderate above an elevation of 8,000 feet and low below that elevation.

Regions covered