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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Highlights

Avalanche conditions remain dangerous at the mid and upper elevations. Yesterday, skiers and riders triggered a couple of small pockets of soft wind slab, and similar slides will be possible today on steep, wind loaded slopes. Loose snow sluffs involving the recent snowfall pose a danger on very steep, long, sustained chutes and couloirs. While starting to become unlikely, persistent slab avalanches remain a concern on a variety of aspects and elevations. These large slabs are more prone to failure in areas where the snowpack is shallow. Don’t let the new snow and the holiday weekend impair your judgement; conservative terrain choices and careful snowpack evaluation will be necessary for safe travel in avalanche terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Since Thursday evening, 2 to 3 feet of new snow has fallen in the Tetons, with the Grand Teton National Park being favored over Teton Pass. Southwesterly to westerly ridgetop winds at 15 to 30 miles per hour accompanied this snowfall, and soft wind slabs formed in leeward terrain above 7,500 feet. In many areas, these slabs reside above hard wind pack from the extended wind event earlier in the week. In steep, wind loaded terrain above 7,500 feet, skiers and riders could trigger these slabs with depths ranging from 1 to 3 feet.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2

    Between 1.25 and 2.0 inches of snow water equivalent has been added to persistent weak layers in the snowpack since Thursday evening. These weak layers are more pronounced in terrain with a shallow snowpack, such as the lower elevations. Skiers and riders still have some potential to trigger slab avalanches up to 4 feet deep failing on these faceted layers. These slabs could also step down from the release of a wind slab.

Avalanche Discussion

Northwesterly flow aloft will develop by Monday morning, and Pacific moisture will begin to move into the region. Light snowfall will be possible overnight before increasing in intensity during the day. Overnight lows in the mountains will be in the mid-single digits before climbing into the mid-teens in the afternoon. Southwesterly to westerly ridgetop winds will increase to 15 to 25 miles per hour.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be Moderate in the Tetons on Monday. Skiers and riders still have some potential to trigger small to large wind slabs in steep, wind loaded terrain above 7,500 feet. As the day progresses, stronger winds and new snow will slowly increase the likelihood of triggering these slabs along with the development of small, new wind slabs. The threat of persistent slab avalanches will continue to decrease, and they will likely be isolated to areas where the snowpack was shallow earlier in the season and more extensive faceting occurred.Dangerous avalanche conditions exist in the Togwotee Pass and Southwest Trails forecast zones, and the general avalanche hazard is expected to remain Considerable. Similar human triggered wind slabs to those in the Tetons will be possible. The higher concern will be large to very large persistent slab avalanches, particularly on Togwotee Pass where poor snowpack structure is widespread. These deadly slabs could be triggered directly by backcountry travelers or step down from the release of a wind slab.

Regions covered