Avalanche forecast

Tetons

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Strong winds and new snow during the past two days have created wind slabs on leeward aspects. These soft slabs could be triggered by skiers and riders and are big enough to injure or bury a person. Sunny skies could cause loose snow sloughs on steep slopes and would likely increase the sensitivity of these wind slabs to human triggers. A persistent deep slab avalanche hazard also exists above an elevation of 7,500 feet. These dangerous deep slabs are more likely to be triggered by snowmobiles but could be triggered by the weight of a skier. Avalanches are unlikely at the lower elevations.

Avalanche problems

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

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

    Skiers and riders can still trigger dangerous persistent deep slab avalanches at the mid and upper elevations. The new snow during the last two days has increased the load on deeply buried layers of weak, faceted snow. Large triggers such as a snowmobile, cornice failure or the release of a wind slab are more likely to initiate the failure of a deep, hard slab avalanche. However, the weight of a single skier could be enough to trigger one of these persistent deep slabs if a shallow, weak zone is encountered. These low probability/high consequence slides could range in depth from two to five feet and will carry severe consequences for anyone involved.

  • Wind Slabs

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

    South to west winds have formed soft slabs up to two feet in depth that could be triggered by skiers and riders in steep, wind loaded avalanche starting zones and cliff areas. Once triggered these slab have some potential to dig down and trigger dangerous deep slab avalanches. Today's sunshine could increase the likelihood for these slabs to be triggered by skiers and riders. The hazard may be higher on the biggest peaks in Grand Teton National Park.

Avalanche Discussion

Skies will continue to be partly cloudy with intermittent light snow showers and flurries in a zonal to northwest flow. Temperatures are forecast to drop into the single digits tonight and rise into the teens and 20s on Wednesday. Winds will continue to be from the west to southwest at 10 to 20 miles per hour with some higher gusts.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE between an elevation of 7,500 and 10,500 feet and LOW below 7,500 feet where avalanches are unlikely. Soft wind slabs, one to two feet in depth, could be human triggered in steep wind loaded avalanche starting zones, cliff areas and steep couloirs. Dangerous hard slab avalanches can still be triggered, especially by snow machines, on persistent weak layers of faceted snow with depths from 2 to 5 feet.

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