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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Out of date — this forecast expired 8 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The chance continues for skiers and riders to trigger slab avalanches involving weak layers that persist under recent snowfall or possibly deeper in the snowpack. These slabs have the potential to be large at the mid and upper elevation while at the low elevations, isolated pockets of slab could be triggered in very steep wind loaded features. These weaknesses can be easily found by evaluating the snowpack, however, determining which steep slopes may fail with additional load is very difficult and snow pit results could be misleading due to spatial variability. Not overthinking the snowpack and exercising continued diligence in making conservative terrain choices is the best way to manage the current avalanche concerns.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Above 7500 feet slab avalanches involving persistent weak layers could be triggered that could be small to large in size with depths to four feet. Failure of the weak layer could propagate long distances, meaning some slopes could be triggered from well below steep terrain or their release may be more stubborn and not fail until a person has committed to a steep decent. Below 7500 feet, depths to eighteen inches are possible where the lower portion of the snowpack is weak and faceted. At all elevations, slabs may become slightly more sensitive this afternoon as they are further weakened by increasing temperatures and direct sunlight.

Avalanche Discussion

Little change is expected in the weather pattern though Friday. Inversions will continue through tonight and into tomorrow. Winds will remain light to moderate.Areas of unstable snow persist on steep slopes. Humans who venture into steep avalanche prone terrain could trigger slab avalanches on buried persistent weak layers. At the mid and upper elevations these slabs could be one to four feet deep. At the lower elevations pockets of slab to 18 inches in depth could be human triggered on isolated terrain features. The general avalanche hazard is forecast to be moderate at the mid and upper elevations (7,500 to 10,500 feet) and low below an elevation of 7,500 feet.

Regions covered