Avalanche forecast

Snake River Range

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Dangerous avalanche conditions exist. You will likely trigger an avalanche 2 to 3 feet deep in steep terrain above 8,000 feet. Slopes facing west through north through east hold the weakest snow. Avalanches can be triggered remotely from below or next to steep terrain. Avoid steep shady slopes, avalanche runout zones and terrain traps. Watch for loose snow sloughing in steep terrain by this afternoon if snowfall continues.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1.5–3

    Weak snow formed in January and early February is buried 2 to 3 feet deep. Within the last 2 days, we have continued to see human-triggered avalanches failing at this layer. This problem is more pronounced on slopes that face the north half of the compass, where faceted snow was very well developed and remains buried. The hazard is also elevated in steep rocky terrain and on previously wind-loaded slopes. You may or may not see warning signs like large collapses or other recent avalanches, and remote triggering remains possible. Avoidance of steep avalanche terrain is the appropriate way to manage this problem. Small terrain traps can have big consequences.

    Baird received 5” of new snow in the last 24 hours, with 2-3” more expected to fall throughout the day. Watch for sloughing in steep terrain that could entrain more snow than expected on slippery crusts at mid- and upper-elevations. If winds pick up this afternoon, watch for drifting snow and increased hazard on steep slopes at upper elevations. Any slab development will be small and shallow, but moving snow has the potential to step down to deeper buried weak layers.

    A large natural persistent slab avalanche that happened around the last storm.

     

Avalanche Discussion

Warm temperatures and rain at low elevations have saturated remaining snow. Use caution around very steep slopes with enough snow to slide. This includes small terrain traps where you might entrain more wet snow than you think while travelling into and out of the mountains.

We have had some great observations submitted recently. Let’s keep this trend going. Thanks!

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