Avalanche forecast

Tetons

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 years ago.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

Highlights

Dangerous avalanche conditions continue to exist at the mid and upper elevations. Backcountry travelers have the potential to trigger large to very large surface slabs in steep, wind loaded terrain. Once initiated, these slabs could cause failure of deeper weak layers in the snowpack. Natural avalanches remain a slight possibility today given the very strong ridgetop winds. At low elevations, recent snow lies over a weak snowpack. Small slabs could be triggered in isolated steep areas and exposure risks also exist in run out zones of large avalanche paths.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    During the recent storm, strong southwest to northwest winds accompanied heavy snowfall, building wind slabs with depths to four feet. Very strong winds this morning continue to distribute snow near peaks and along ridge crests. Shallow wind slabs could fail on density breaks near the surface and deeper slabs to as much as four feet could be human triggered in steep avalanche terrain at the mid and upper elevations. At low elevations, there is little distinction between wind slabs and persistent slabs. At these elevations soft slabs with depths to two feet could be triggered in steep loaded terrain.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    3

    Persistent weak layers lie buried within the snowpack. Although avalanches involving these older layers are less likely, large triggered wind slabs could cause them to fail with slab depths that could reach as much as six feet. At low elevations, there is little distinction between wind slabs and persistent slabs. At these elevations soft slabs with depths to two feet could be triggered in steep loaded terrain.

Avalanche Discussion

As the next weather disturbance approaches the region, cloud cover is expected to increase from partly to mostly cloudy throughout the day. In the afternoon, light snowfall may develop over the mountains. Southwesterly winds are expected to be twenty to thirty miles per hour with valley gusts in the twenties. Mountain temperatures are expected to range from ten to fifteen degrees and valleys from fifteen to twenty-five degrees. The avalanche hazard, across all the forecast areas, is expected to remain Considerable above an elevation of 7,500 feet. Due to strong winds loading slopes and forming wind slabs, dangerous slab avalanches one to four feet in depth could be triggered by the weight of a single person. The impact of triggering a large avalanche could result in the release of an even bigger slide stepping down to weak layers from much earlier in the season. Moderate to strong winds from today have formed smaller slabs that will be more easily triggered. Below 7,500 feet, slab avalanches are expected to be smaller and isolated to steep avalanche terrain.

Regions covered