Avalanche forecast

Tetons

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 9 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Yesterday, a snowmobiler triggered a two to three foot deep slab avalanche on an easterly aspect around 8,000 feet in the Snake River range. A buried layer of surface hoar from January is the likely culprit. Large to very large persistent deep slab avalanches remain the primary concern on a variety of aspects above 7,500 feet. While the likelihood of triggering these slabs is once again on a decreasing trend, the consequences of being caught remain severe. A skeptical mindset is still warranted with these conditions. Skiers and riders might also be able to trigger a pocket of wind slab up to 18 inches deep in very steep terrain above 9,000 feet. Below 7,500 feet, avalanche activity is unlikely in most areas.

Avalanche problems

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

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

    Persistent deep slab avalanches ranging in depth from two to five feet continue to pose a threat to backcountry travelers on a variety of aspects above 7,500 feet. These slabs could fail on faceted snow buried in early December or mid-January. Large triggers, such as snowmobiles or the release of a surface slab, are more likely to be able to impact these buried weak layers. However, the weight of a single person could still trigger one of these dangerous slabs if a shallow weak zone is encountered.

Avalanche Discussion

A low pressure system from the Pacific is stalling over the Great Basin. The portion of this system that will affect western Wyoming is splitting and weakening. Although the bulk of the moisture associated with this storm will remain to our south and west, enough moisture will move into the region to produce some periods of light snowfall overnight and into the morning hours. Temperatures will remain in the teens and 20s. Winds will be light from the east to northeast.At the mid and upper elevations (7,500 to 10,500 feet) dense slab avalanches can still be triggered on a variety of aspects by the weight of a single person. These slabs can fail with depths from 2 to 3 feet on a layer of surface hoar that formed in mid-January and on a persistent weak layer of faceted snow that is deeply buried above a late November crust with depths from 3 to 6 feet. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE at the mid and upper elevations and LOW below an elevation of 7,500 feet.

Regions covered