Avalanche forecast

Tetons

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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

Highlights

Dangerous avalanche conditions exist. It will be possible to trigger very large avalanches in steep terrain today. Warm temperatures are helping to increase the likelihood of triggering. Stick to terrain 30 degrees or less and avoid being in the runout of terrain from above.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2.5

    3 feet of dense snow combined with strong winds over the last 4 days have created dangerous conditions. This has formed slabs 2-4 feet thick that when triggered can propagate across large distances and make escape impossible. Obvious signs such as cracking and collapsing may not be present. Many slopes will appear to be stable. This scenario can lead to a false sense of security. Today is not the day to let your guard down or to think that you can outsmart the instability. Large triggers, terrain over 35 degrees, hitting thin spots in the slab and warm temps are factors that will increase the odds of triggering an avalanche today. Keep terrain choices simple by sticking to lower angled terrain. Be aware of terrain and other groups above, as avalanches hold the potential to run long distances today.

    Yesterday a group of 7 triggered a large hard slab avalanche south of the Jackson Hole Mt Resort boundary. All members of the party were caught and carried. Fortunately all members survived and walked away with only minor injuries. This incident could have had a much worse outcome given the size and destructive force of this avalanche. The potential remains for similar events today.

    (2/3/2025)

    A large skier triggered avalanche on a NE facing slope at 9,400' south of JHMR. It likely failed on the new/old interface that was buried on 1/31. 7 skiers were caught and carried. All members of the party survived the incident.

    Photo: Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center

  • Loose Wet

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

    Unseasonably warm temperatures continue to be observed throughout the Tetons. Overnight temperatures at 9,500 feet remained above freezing. This is allowing for the continued potential of wet loose avalanches in the lower and middle elevations. Wet slabs cannot be ruled out either, as the warm temps have creeped up in elevation to areas that had not seen these temps until the last 24 hours. This has helped to increase the likelihood of triggering avalanches in steep terrain on all aspects up to 9,500 feet.

Avalanche Discussion

The current snowpack situation is not overly complicated. The second half of January saw very limited snowfall and periods of cold temps. This allowed for the formation of weak snow at the surface in many locations. The first three days of February brought significant precipitation to the area. The recipe for a slab avalanche now exists in many locations (slab, weak layer, bed surface). By introducing a trigger avalanche potential goes up. 

Given the warmth over the tail end of the precip which ended yesterday, many areas appear to be stable. Surfaces are dense and can hold significant weight. It is possible to put many tracks on a slope without incident. The tipping point can be reached if the trigger is large (groups or snowmobiles), or if the person hits a thinner spot in the slab. Due to this uncertainty, the best strategy for the time being is to avoid the problem and keep terrain choices simple. Avoid terrain over 30 degrees and stay out of the runout of terrain from above.

Regions covered