Avalanche forecast

Snake River Range

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

A combination of avalanche problems will create dangerous conditions across all elevations where triggering an avalanche is likely. Recent snow combined with strong wind will form wind drifted snow and stress weak layers in the middle to upper elevation. Warming temperatures will create unstable wet snow in lower elevations. Use conservative terrain choices to avoid slopes that contain each unique problem with numerous red flag conditions present. 

 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Large amounts of snow combined with sustained west/southwest wind 20-30 mph over the last two days has formed fresh slabs up to 2’ deep. Slab depths will be larger and more consequential in the upper elevations that contain more open and wind exposed slopes. Look for signs of unstable snow on terrain typically loaded including leeward slopes off ridgelines and cross loaded terrain around rock features and large wind funnels such as canyons. Cracking, punchy or hollow sounding surfaces, and large pillow features are all signs of unstable wind drifted snow.

    (12/28/2024)

    Look for signs of unstable new snow such as cracking surfaces seen here. 

    Photo: John Fitzgerald

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–3

    Weak layers of faceted snow buried 2-4’ deep have been stressed with rapid loading of new snow, increasing temperatures, and potential rain on snow. Areas that harbor a shallower snowpack around 2-3’ is where it is possible to trigger a very large avalanche, as the overlying slab is thinner and easier to impact the weak layers. One of these avalanches was remotely triggered four days on a slope with a shallow snowpack in Indian Creek . Watch out for slopes over 35° with similar characteristics that are rocky, shallow, and wind affected above 7500’. Persistent slabs can behave in unpredictable ways. Multiple tracks on a slope do not indicate stability and avalanches could be triggered remotely from gentle terrain above, below, or to the side of steep slopes. 

    (12/31/2024)

    Large remotely triggered avalanche that failed on persistent weak layers. The avalanche propagetd out of view to the left and right.

     

  • Loose Wet

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

    Warm temperatures will destabilize large amounts of recent snow on lower to middle elevation slopes, especially areas that receive rain. Although these avalanches start small, they can entrain large amounts of snow and knock you off your feet. Look natural wet snow avalanches and pay attetnion to the snow becoming heavy, moist, or wet as a sign of destabilizing conditions. Watch for increased wet loose activity on southerly aspects if skies clear due to solar input. Even northerly aspects may destabilize with the onset of rain on snow. 

Avalanche Discussion

There’s a lot going on in the snowpack today as rapidly changing conditions are creating unstable snow. Recent snow, moderate-strong wind, persistent weak layers, and rapidly warming temperatures are all red flag avalanche conditions that should raise your hackles. The best way to manage all these problems is to stick to more conservative terrain choices. Seek simpler terrain sheltered from the wind and monitor the recent snow conditions as temperatures warm throughout the day. Snowfall two days ago impacted this zone the most significantly around the Snake River Canyon which received 12" in the lower elevations. It is currently raining in the lower elevations which will rapidly destabilize all that recent snow. 

Regions covered