Avalanche forecast

Tetons

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

The mountains have received 10 to 14 inches of new snow since yesterday morning. West-southwest winds have formed pockets of fresh wind slab on leeward aspects. Humans who venture onto steep avalanche prone slopes at the mid and upper elevations could trigger soft slab avalanches and loose snow sluffs. These slides could be large enough to seriously injure and bury people. This new snow and wind has also increased the load on persistent weak layers. This new load may increase the potential for humans to trigger large persistent slab avalanches. Avalanches are unlikely at the lower elevations except for small pockets on isolated terrain features. A careful evaluation of the the snow and terrain is warranted. Practice safe travel techniques.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Skiers and riders could easily trigger pockets of fresh wind slab up to two feet in depth in steep wind loaded avalanche starting zones.

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Some potential may remain for skiers and riders to trigger persistent slab avalanches on buried layers of faceted snow and surface hoar. These persistent slabs avalanche could also be triggered by the release of a wind slab or loose snow avalanche. At the mid and upper elevations these persistent slab avalanches could be two to five feet deep. At the lower elevations, where sugary snow lies below stronger snow, persistent slab avalanches with depths of one to two feet are possible in isolated areas.

Avalanche Discussion

As the leading edge of a trough moves into Nevada and Utah, precipitation will draw to the south. Snowfall will continue across the region overnight and into tomorrow. The low-pressure system is only expected to affect the southern portion of the forecast area, where the National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for tomorrow. The Salt River and Wyoming Ranges could receive 6 to 10 inches of snow. While in the Togwotee Pass and in the Teton forecast areas, snowfall is expected to be light with about an inch of accumulation through tomorrow. Winds across the region are expected to remain light and variable, and mountain temperatures will start in the teens rising into the twenties. As the storm impacts the Grey’s River area, the additional load on buried persistent weak layers could increase the avalanche hazard causing these persistent slabs to become more sensitive to triggers. It remains possible for riders and skiers to trigger avalanches, up to five feet in depth, in steep avalanche-prone terrain. Due to the large size of these avalanches, dangerous avalanche conditions exist, and the avalanche hazard is expected to be Considerable. Across all the forecast areas, shallow wind slabs 1 to 2 feet in depth and loose snow sluffs involving the new snow remains a concern on steep slopes.In the Teton and Togwotee Pass areas, the avalanche hazard is expected to be Moderate. On Togwotee Pass, persistent slab avalanches, with slab depth of 2 to 4 feet, could be triggered by riders and skiers. While in the Tetons, there is still some concern with the persistent slab in areas where the snowpack is shallow, the15 inches of new snow is more likely to get backcountry travelers into trouble.

Regions covered