Avalanche forecast

Tetons

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Triggering an avalanche is possible, especially in specific areas that received 10 inches of new snow in the last 24 hours. New snow and wind has varied drastically across the forecast zone, with snowfall favoring the west side of the Tetons. Increased sensitivity and deeper instability could be found on new or previously wind loaded terrain. Use heightened caution in areas with increased amounts of new snow and look for signs of instability such as cracking.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    New snow amounts varied across the zone in the last 24 hours with up to 10” of new snow favoring the west side of the Tetons. Wind slabs previously formed before this new snow may still be sensitive to triggering 1-2 feet in depth. Although less likely, these slabs could be hidden beneath new snow or freshly formed wind slabs 2-3 feet in depth in isolated areas with high amounts of new snow. Upper elevations on exposed terrain or along ridges will be the primary concern. Variable winds recently could make identifying wind loaded terrain difficult. The highest likelihood of encountering a wind slab will be on north and east aspects, although variable winds could load unsuspecting terrain. 

    In addition, storm slabs could be sensitive in areas with higher amounts of new snow. These slabs will be less than a foot deep with increased reactivity on southerly aspects where new snow fell on melt freeze crusts. 

     

    (1/12/2023)

    Cracking, an obvious sign of instability. 

Avalanche Discussion

Variability is the best way to describe today's avalanche danger. The majority of the terrain out there will likely have mostly stable conditions. But, thanks to the unpredictable nature of weather systems we will see a mixed bag of avalanche conditions. As you’ve likely noticed if you read this far, snowfall amounts varied drastically across the Tetons and Greys forecast zones. The main debate this morning is whether considerable avalanche danger will be found in the upper elevations in these isolated areas of significantly larger snowfall totals. You may very well find these heightened avalanche conditions out there even though the overall danger rating is moderate (a spicy moderate as some say). The reasoning behind maintaining the moderate rating is the spatial distribution, small avalanches in specific terrain or large avalanches in isolated terrain. Think about those specific or isolated areas with significantly more snowfall before planning and choosing terrain today.

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