Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
3 · Considerable
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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Very dangerous avalanche conditions exist above 9,000 feet, and TRAVEL IN AVALANCHE TERRAIN IS NOT RECOMMENDED. Avalanche conditions are dangerous below 9,000 feet, and excellent route-finding skills and conservative terrain choices will be essential for safe travel in avalanche terrain. Both human triggered and natural avalanche activity, in the form of large to very large wind slabs and persistent slabs, is likely today. These slides could easily have fatal consequences, and they have the potential to run full track into low elevation terrain. Tragically, four skiers were killed yesterday in an avalanche in Mill Creek Canyon outside of Salt Lake City, which brings a total of 13 U.S. fatalities since the beginning of February. Don’t let yourself become a statistic.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    2–3

    Since early Wednesday morning, the Southwest Trails forecast zone has received between 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 feet of new snow. In the past 36 hours, southwesterly to northwesterly ridgetop winds ramped up with hourly averages between 25 and 40 miles per hour. This scenario has resulted in heavily loaded leeward slopes, stiffened wind slabs and upside-down conditions. On a variety of aspects above 7,500 feet, skiers and riders could very easily trigger these slabs with depths ranging from 2 to 4 feet. Natural activity could also occur. Below 7,500 feet, pockets of wind slab between 1 and 3 feet could be human triggered on steep, wind-loaded slopes.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    3

    On a variety of aspects above 7,500 feet, between 2 and 3 inches of snow water equivalent has been added to persistent weak layers since early Wednesday morning. Avalanche activity associated with these weak layers are likely to range in depth from 3 to 6 feet, and they could occur naturally, be human triggered or step down from the release of a wind slab. Backcountry travelers could trigger similar slabs between 2 and 4 feet below 7,500 feet.

Avalanche Discussion

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )The strongest portion of the northwesterly jet stream will reside over the region through Sunday, and snowfall intensity will decrease during the day. An additional 6 to 10 inches of new snow will be possible by Sunday evening. Overnight lows in the mountains will be in the upper single digits before rising into the low teens in the afternoon. Southwesterly to westerly ridgetop winds will range from 25 to 35 miles per hour before starting to decrease in the afternoon.With the copious recent snow fall, more on the way and continued strong winds, the general avalanche hazard is expected to be High in the Teton and Southwest Trails forecast zones on Sunday. Both human triggered and natural activity will be likely. These large to very large wind slabs could easily have fatal consequences, and they have the potential to travel down into low elevation terrain. Weak layers of faceted snow persist below the recent snowfall, and deeper slab avalanches could occur naturally, be human triggered or step down from the release of a wind slab. TRAVEL IN AVALANCHE TERRAIN IS NOT RECOMMENDED DURING PERIODS OF HIGH AVALANCHE HAZARD.On Togwotee Pass, where less snow has fallen, the general avalanche hazard is expected to remain Considerable. Skiers and riders could easily trigger small to large wind slabs along with large to very large persistent slabs. Natural activity will also be possible. Excellent route-finding skills and conservative terrain choices will be essential for safe travel in avalanche terrain.

Regions covered