Avalanche forecast

Tetons

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Dangerous conditions exist at the upper elevations. Multiple large natural slab avalanches occurred two nights ago in the southern Teton Range and a very large hard slab avalanche released naturally around noon yesterday. These events failed on a weak layer that persist on the October rain crust. Similar events could be human triggered today. Wind slabs could also be human triggered on a variety of aspects at the mid and upper elevations. Avalanches are unlikely at the lower elevations except in isolated terrain features.

Avalanche problems

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

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

    At the upper elevations very large destructive hard slab avalanches with depths to five feet could be human triggered on east through north to west aspects. These dangerous slabs can have crowns that break high in the starting zones and propagate into adjacent slide paths. Although these slabs could be triggered by the weight of a single person multiple tracks on a suspect slope should not be interpreted to be an indication of stability.

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Winds slabs formed by west-southwest to west-northwest winds could be human triggered on a variety of aspects at the mid and upper elevations with depths from one to three feet. These slabs could fail on density differences, sun crusts, or faceted snow.

Avalanche Discussion

Skies are expected to remain cloudy overnight and into the day. Several inches of light density snow accumulation are possible in the mountains. Overnight lows will be near 10 degrees below zero. Daytime highs will rise into the single digits above zero. Winds will be light at 10 to 15 miles per hour and veer to the northwest.The general avalanche hazard will continue to be CONSIDERABLE at the higher elevations. Dangerous deep slabs three to five feet in depth could be triggered by the weight of a single person. These slabs are unpredictable and could release after having been previously tracked by skiers or riders. If triggered these slide are likely to be unsurvivable. Smaller wind slabs with depths from one to three feet could also be human triggered in steep wind loaded avalanche starting zones at the mid and upper elevations. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE at the mid elevations and LOW below an elevation of 7,500 feet.

Regions covered