Avalanche forecast

Snake River Range

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Avalanche danger will increase throughout the day as direct sun and warm temperatures destabilize the snow surface. Expect wet snow avalanche activity primarily on solar aspects. Cornices are large and may be unstable. Give yourself options and exits not threatened by steep sunny slopes. Seek cooler, shaded terrain if you find snow becoming wet and unstable. 

 

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Overnight, clear skies and cold temperatures refroze the saturated snow surface, but as temperatures climb to the low 40s F today, wet snow avalanches will become a threat. As temperatures warm, snow surfaces may destabilize causing avalanches, particularly below 9000' where conditions are warmest. The largest of these will occur on very steep, rocky slopes directly facing the sun. Wet slides often start as point releases in any steep terrain including road cuts, cliff areas, and even treed slopes. Although unlikely, there is a chance to trigger heat-related slabs in isolated areas at lower elevations where the snowpack is thin. Watch for early indications of a warming snow surface such as rollerballs, pinwheels, or wet surface snow. Even a small wet snow avalanche can quickly knock you off your feet and drag you downhill. Give yourself options, including low-angled routes and exits not threatened by steep sunny slopes above. Seek lower angled, shaded terrain if you find snow becoming wet and unstable. 

    Additional Discussion:  As temperatures warm, cornices will weaken, and could release naturally. Limit your time under these features, and remember - when approaching ridgelines - cornices can break farther back than anticipated. 

    (2/3/2025)

    D2 natural wet loose avalanche from a previous cycle in the Snake River Canyon

    Photo: Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

March is beginning with full diurnal spring conditions. Even though temperatures at higher elevations are starting just below freezing, snow surfaces will have undergone a hard freeze given the radiational cooling that occurs on clear nights.  As these melt-freeze cycles continue, wet slide activity will typically decrease, but we are only a few days into the cycle and natural wet slide activity is still expected to occur today.  

In lower elevations (>7,000') of the Snake River Range, the snowpack is thin with a poor snowpack structure on E, SE, S, and SW slopes. Yesterday, a forecaster traveling at lower elevations in the Snake River Canyon dug two pits and found this structure propagated and collapsed ~6500' on a SW and ENE aspects. On February 20th, a slab avalanche was reported at low elevation (7200') on a SE aspect in the Snake River Canyon.  These failures are occurring on or near a melt freeze crust/facets combo that exist roughly 50cm (20 inches) deep in the snowpack. While you're unlikely to trigger a large slab avalanche at lower elevations, warming temperatures may increase the sensitivity of this layer. Even a small avalanche can be consequential near terrain traps and creek bottoms. Use caution when entering and exiting the mountains today and remember conditions will change rapidly at lower elevations. 

 

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