Avalanche forecast

Tetons

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Out of date — this forecast expired 13 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Large slab avalanches that have been releasing on approach by skiers and snowmobilers will slowly gain enough strength for people to venture out onto them before they fail. This scenario has huge consequences and merits a very conservative approach to avalanche terrain. Human triggered avalanches are likely and natural releases remain a possibility. Although these dangerous slabs can be triggered during the early morning hours they are expected to be more sensitive to failure during the warmer portion of the day. In these conditions stability evaluation results are difficult to interpret and are uncertain.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Large persistent slabs two to six feet in depth exist at all elevations and could be triggered on a variety of aspects. However, east and southeast aspects have have been the most active. These dangerous slabs have been triggered in areas where thick deposits of wind drifted snow exist in the starting zone. Weak spots on steep rocky slopes should also be considered likely trigger points. These avalanches are widely propagating, running fast and are producing large debris fields. With abundant sunshine in the forecast the sensitivity of these slabs to human triggers should increase as temperatures warm. Natural avalanche releases remain a possibility.

Avalanche Discussion

The high pressure ridge will dominate our weather. Skies will be clear above areas of patchy morning fog. Overnight lows will fall into the teens at elevation and to near zero in the valley bottoms. Daytime highs will rise to near 30 at all elevations. Northwest winds will weaken to 5 to 10 miles per hour.Sunshine, warm temperatures and much calmer winds will increase the potential for humans to trigger large slab avalanches with crown depths of two to six feet. Although these dangerous slabs could be triggered during the early morning hours they are expected to be more sensitive to failure during the warmer portions of the day. Human involvements with one of these large slabs is likely to be fatal. The general avalanche hazard will be CONSIDERABLE. Conservation decisions regarding terrain choices are essential for safe travel in avalanche terrain.

Regions covered