Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

Avalanche conditions remain dangerous. Backcountry riders and skiers have the potential to trigger wind slabs formed during recent snowfall and deep persistent slabs involving older weak layers of snow. If triggered, these potentially very large slides would be difficult to survive. Avalanche conditions will be more sensitive this afternoon when direct sunlight and calmer winds allow mountain temperatures to reach into the forties. Conservative decision making is essential in avoiding these avalanche dangers.

Avalanche problems

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

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

    The Southwest Trails’ snowpack has poor structure. The potential for very large, deep hard slab avalanches continues. Larger triggers such as the release of a large wind may be necessary to cause their failure but they could still fail to a single person hitting a particularly weak spot on a slope. Use caution as failure could occur after a slope is tracked several times. If triggered, crown depths of 4 to 8 feet above 8000 feet and 2 to 4 feet deep at the lower elevations are expected.

  • Wind Slabs

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

    On steep, wind loaded slopes above 8,000 feet, backcountry travelers could trigger wind slabs with depths ranging from 1 to 2 feet. The likelihood of triggering these slabs will increase as the day warms. Natural activity is possible, especially during the warmest portion of the day.

Avalanche Discussion

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )High pressure is to dominate. Expect mild temperature inversions in the morning and warmer highs at all elevations with temperatures at the 9000 feet reaching the low forties. All three forecast areas have the same problem types, wind slabs and deep persistent slabs, but they vary considerably in the extent and likelihood of those problems. In the Tetons, where the most snow was received, the chance of triggering a deep slab is becoming unlikely but it remains a slight possibility due to uncertainty associated with the forecast warm temperatures. Those warm temperatures will first weaken wind slab which, if triggered could then cause failure of deeper layers which could cause a very large avalanche. The danger will be Moderate in the morning and raise to Considerable in the afternoon. At Togwotee Pass, the snowpack is weaker and the triggering of deep layers is the primary concern. Just 2 days ago a snowmobile triggered an avalanche with an eight foot crown. Similar events remain possible, especially during the afternoon as warming weakens the snowpack. The danger will be Considerable above 8000 feet and Moderate below that elevation. In the Southwest Trails area, as has been the case a lot this season, it lies in between the other two areas. More snow has been received there than the Togwotee Pass area but not as much as in the Tetons. Triggering truly deep slab avalanches there is more likely than in the Tetons and they could be very large with depths to eight feet. As in the other areas, wind slabs also remain a threat. The danger rating there will also be Considerable and avalanches will be more sensitive to human triggers during the heat of the day.

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