Avalanche forecast

Tetons

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Triggering an avalanche 1-3 feet deep is possible today.  While not a widespread problem, you could trigger a slab up to a foot thick in wind-sheltered areas and potentially up to three feet thick in wind loaded spots.  Consider the terrain below you and keep to lower angled slopes to minimize your exposure to these hazards.  Avalanches are unlikely at the low elevations except in isolated pockets of very steep terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Avalanches continue to be triggered on the persistent, small faceted grains at the old surface which the recent storm snow (16-22") fell upon beginning on Feb 6th.  Soft slab avalanches were triggered on this layer yesterday, with a similar example triggered two days ago on Mount Albright in the Tetons. Many other avalanches have been reported, see the Observation section for more. Remember that the weak layer in question is easy to find but unreactive in most pits and is only reactive in specific areas where the right combination of slab character and layer weakness exists. Sheltered areas are not immune to this problem though very steep slopes over 35 degrees, especially wind-loaded ones, are especially prone to avalanching. In every reported avalanche on this layer, no cracking, collapsing or other warning signs have been observed prior to triggering. Now is a great time to view most every slope with some suspicion, follow safe travel protocols and definitely remember this layer when we get more snow and wind.

    Deeper in the snowpack, weak snow that formed during a dry period in the second half of January has been buried 3-4 feet deep. This 1/31 layer appears to be dormant after significant testing by water weight, and human and natural triggers.

    Foreground: Tuesday, 2/11, Breakneck. Background: Monday, 2/10, Pucker Face. Both of these avalacnhes were humna triggered. Photo: Steph Schmitt

Avalanche Discussion

The region's most recent storm buried layers of weak snow and a crust with 24" of new snow (over 2" of water) starting on February 6th. This storm was accompanied by 25-30 mph winds, predominately out of southwest, gusting over 70 mph. These wind speeds easily redistributed the new snow across the terrain.  Snowfall at the end of the storm was light density and fell with little wind and has obscured some of the typical signs of wind effect. During the storm, natural and human-triggered avalanches propagated widely on this weak grain type when triggered and were very easily triggered in cases. Most of these avalanches have been reported on north through southeast aspects and mostly between 8500' to 10,500' though a few have occurred between 7,500' and 8,500'. 

If you see any avalanche activity today, please submit an observation HERE. Observations allow everyone to gain a better and more complete understanding of conditions. Thanks!

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