Avalanche forecast

Tetons

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
3 · Considerable
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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Very dangerous avalanche conditions exist. Continued snowfall and wind are stressing a reactive snowpack. You are very likely to trigger an avalanche today on most steep slopes, both in areas where the wind has built drifts and in areas sheltered from the wind. Avalanches can be triggered remotely—from below, above, and to the sides of steeper terrain. Travel in or below avalanche terrain is not recommended today. 

 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Snowfall and consistent westerly winds built slabs overnight, with an additional 10-12" of snow in the Tetons. Expect to find wind drifts up to 3 feet thick in terrain exposed to the wind throughout the course of the day. These slabs will be easy to trigger today and create avalanches large enough to bury a person. Additional snowfall and wind this morning will cause these slabs to grow in size and distribution. Natural avalanches are likely in upper-elevation terrain; pay attention to the terrain above you. Cautious route-finding is necessary.

     

    (12/15/2024)

    This large avalanche was remotely triggered in Christmas Tree Bowl on 12/15 on surface hoar on the old/new interface. 

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1–2

    All aspects (shaded and sunny) at all elevations are suspect, and only the lowest elevation slopes that were bare ground before have escaped this problem. Slabs could be triggered from a distance or wait until you have committed to the slope to release. The 2-3'+ of new snow that has fallen in the past 72 hrs is not sticking well to the old snow surfaces—which consisted of facets, crusts, and surface hoar. Shifting temperatures and time have helped to consolidate the storm snow into a more cohesive slab. Slabs will be thicker, stiffer, and more dangerous in terrain where these two avalanche problems overlap. Any storm slab that releases could break within the newest snowfall, or on the weak snow buried deeper in the snowpack.

    (12/15/2024)

    Public Observation: Olympic Bowl

Avalanche Discussion

Today is a day to take a few big steps back. Even very experienced backcountry travelers can be taken by surprise in these types of conditions. It can be hard to wrap our heads around the types of avalanches failing during multi-day storms like this one. Remember that stepping out of bounds at a ski area or out of your car at the Pass is stepping into high danger. We find ourselves still amid a storm with a larger avalanche cycle likely occurring but obscured by poor visibility. More evidence of instability than we think exists, buffed away by the more snow and wind for us never to witness. A second pulse of heavy winds set to hit tomorrow will give this snowpack (and our avalanche eyes) no rest. All steep terrain needs to be looked at with a fresh lens today. This means dialing back slope angles, even in terrain that feels more familiar, & recognizing the consequences of even a small avalanche in that terrain. Avalanches today may break wider than you expect or connect two pieces of steeper terrain with lower-angled features that may appear friendlier but, in fact, are not. 

 

 

Regions covered