Avalanche forecast

Tetons

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired last year. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Triggering an avalanche in very steep wind-loaded terrain is possible today at middle and upper elevations. Look for obvious drifts, wind-affected snow surfaces, and shooting cracks indicating unstable snow. You can avoid this problem in sheltered terrain. Slopes will be loaded in unusual locations from northeasterly winds.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Slabs up to 16” formed on lee aspects yesterday from strong east/northeast winds. This problem exists at middle and upper elevations. Slabs resting on very steep slopes will be sensitive to the weight of a rider. Look for pillows, stiff drifts, and shooting cracks as an indication of unstable snow. This was an atypical wind direction, stripping exposed east aspects down to last week's crust, loading westerly aspects, and cross-loading terrain features in unusual patterns. Keep your head on a swivel as you assess yesterday’s wind-loading pattern. Look for sheltered terrain to avoid this problem.

    Look for this type of wind slab on very steep convexities, around cliffs, and crossloaded terrain features like couloirs.  Wind-loading will be in unusual places today.

    Photo: Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

In addition to unusual wind-loading patterns, keep the following in mind as you are out and about:

  • Wet Loose - Cloud cover is forecasted to drop to 50% by noon and continue to decrease throughout the day. Wet loose avalanches will be possible at low and middle elevations on steep sunny slopes. The sun is higher this time of year and will have a strong effect on snow surfaces. If you see rollerballs or small loose avalanches start to originate from very steep southerly aspects and rocky outcrops, move to shadier slopes and minimize exposure as you travel underneath steep, warming slopes.
  • Dry Loose (Sluffing) - Sluffing has been observed in very steep, sheltered terrain.  This is not an avalanche concern as much as it is a safety concern. It does not take much sluff to knock you over, which can be problematic in high-consequence terrain.
  • Cornices - Cornices are big this time of year. Many cornices have started cracking and can still break unexpectedly. Remember that they crack much further back than you expect - something to keep in mind as you climb ridges. Minimize the time spent on slopes beneath cornices.
  • Variable Surface Conditions - This is not an avalanche hazard but could be hazardous nonetheless. Exposed easterly aspects above 8500’ were stripped in many locations down to last weekend’s crusts. Those crusts formed almost everywhere except on high, north-facing slopes. 

If you see avalanche activity today, please consider submitting an observation HERE. Observations allow everyone to gain a better and more complete understanding of conditions. Thanks!

Regions covered