Avalanche forecast

Tetons

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
No rating
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Out of date — this forecast expired 8 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The higher elevations have received about a foot of new snow with around 1.5 inches of moisture since early yesterday morning. At the upper elevations there are two crust layers that could be potential sliding surfaces. One formed on Friday when the freezing level rose to an elevation of around 9,800 feet. The other exists at the base of the snowpack on steep north facing terrain above an elevation of 9,000 feet. Carefully evaluate the bond in the snowpack between the overlying snow and these crusts. Assess terrain for the consequences of potential slab avalanche releases on these crusts. The avalanche hazard may be higher above an elevation of 10,500 feet where the crust at the base of the snowpack exists on a variety of aspects. Avalanches are unlikely below an elevation of 9,000 feet.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    In exposed terrain at the upper elevations strong gusty winds have formed areas of wind-packed snow and dense surface slabs. Small pockets of dense wind slab 6 to 18 inches in depth have some potential to be triggered by humans on steep rollovers and in steep avalanche starting zones. Larger slabs up to two feet in depth that lie upon a hard crust at the base of the snowpack are expected to be difficult to trigger, however they should be treated as a hazard with potentially serious consequences.

Avalanche Discussion

The northwest will continue to bring snow showers to the region for the next 48 hours. Snow shower activity will be isolated to scattered. Favored areas could pick up a couple of inches of light density snow. Temperatures in the mountains will remain in the teens and 20s. West-northwest winds will decrease to 10 to 20 miles per hour.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be LOW. A hard crust exists at the base of the snowpack on steep northerly aspects above an elevation of 9,000 feet and on a variety of aspects above an elevation of 10,500 feet. Another crust formed three days ago when the freezing level rose to around an elevation of 9,800 feet. Careful evaluations of these crust layers as potential sliding surfaces are warranted. If a dense slab avalanche was triggered on Fridays crust it would be 6 to 18 inches deep. A slab triggered on the basil crust could be up to 2 feet deep. Terrain assessment efforts should consider the potential consequences of triggering a slide on one of these crust layers. Avalanches are unlikely below an elevation of 9,000 feet.

Regions covered