Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Recently formed wind slabs up to two feet thick may be triggered today. Look for signs of wind affected snow like drifts, cornices and pillows and signs of active wind loading like plumes at ridge tops. Skiers and riders continue to have the potential to trigger deeper weak layers and that potential will increase in wind affected terrain.

 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    The wind was strong in the past 24 hours and will continue to move loose snow and form drifts and cornices until the wind calms this afternoon. The recently formed slabs could be soft or hard and one to two feet thick and are most likely to be found just below ridges and in rocky terrain, including couloirs. A wind slab avalanche triggered in steep, rocky, north facing terrain also has the potential to step down into the more deeply buried weak layers. Look for shooting cracks in front of your ski tips and other signs like wind pillows or hollow sounding firm slabs. These slabs are likely to be easy to trigger due to the weak surface snow that they sit upon.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    Weak layers of snow are buried 2-4 feet deep within the snowpack. Triggering a large hard slab avalanche at these depths has become unlikely but is not impossible. Instability is most likely to be found in very steep, north facing terrain and will involve finding a thin and therefore weak spot in the snowpack. These weak spots lurk in steep, rocky and usually complex terrain. Larger triggers such as groups, snowmobiles, or falling cornices, will increase the odds of impacting these weak layers. 

    (1/13/2025)

    This photo from the Wyoming Range is an example of where you can trigger persistent weak layers. 

Avalanche Discussion

Old, buried snow layers continue to warrant consideration. This avalanche problem is currently a low likelihood/high consequence scenario. Choosing terrain that reduces your exposure and remaining vigilant when traveling in avalanche terrain is important given this setup. Snow depths vary greatly throughout this forecast zone and those areas where the snowpack is not as deep, such as the east side of Wyoming range, may be more prone to having unstable slopes. A very large natural avalanche involving these layers occurred on January 7th in the nearby Snake River Range  is a good reminder of weak snow lurking below. The wind slab problem is most likely to be found in very steep, rocky or "extreme" terrain. The wind slab problem should be short lived as the freshly transported snow bonds to the recent snow surfaces. 

Want to learn more about how triggering a persistent slab avalanche from a thin spot works? Check out this sweet video made by a seasoned avalanche professional.

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