Avalanche forecast

Tetons

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Avalanche conditions remain dangerous at the mid and upper elevations. Backcountry travelers could easily trigger small to large wind slabs on steep, wind loaded slopes. While these slides could kill you, involvement in a persistent deep slab avalanche almost certainly will. Skiers and riders have the potential to trigger these large to very large slabs on a variety of aspects and elevations. They could also release naturally. If you want to play it safe, stay off of and out from underneath slopes greater than 30 degrees. Otherwise, very cautious route finding and expert snowpack evaluations skills will be a requirement for safe travel in avalanche terrain. Strong winds will likely keep snow surfaces cool. However, if extended periods of sunshine do occur and snow surfaces start to become damp, transition to shaded terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

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

    Since early Friday morning, up to 2.0 inches of snow water equivalent has been added to persistent weak layers deeply buried in the snowpack, and some slopes have reached their tipping point. On Saturday, a highly destructive avalanche released naturally on a southeast facing aspect of Mount Hunt around 10,400 feet. This avalanche ran full track, snapped mature trees and had an estimated crown depth between 6 and 8 feet. Other slopes are just waiting for a trigger. These persistent deep slabs are likely to range in depth from 4 to 8 feet at the mid and upper elevations and 2 to 4 feet deep at the lower elevations. These deadly slabs could also step down from the release of a wind slab or occur naturally.

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Northwesterly ridgetop winds picked up on Sunday with hourly averages between 20 and 30 miles per hour. While new snow accumulations were light in the past 24 hours, winds easily transported the abundant available snow onto leeward slopes, and wind slabs stiffened and gained volume. Skiers and riders are likely to trigger these slabs with depths ranging from 1 to 4 feet in steep, wind loaded terrain above 7,500 feet. Natural activity will also be possible.

Avalanche Discussion

Northwesterly flow aloft will back to the west as a cold front brings another round of snowfall overnight and through the day on Tuesday. Overnight lows in the mountains will be in the mid to upper teens and temperatures are not expected to rise much if any during the day. Westerly to southwesterly ridgetop winds will increase to 25 to 35 miles per hour.Avalanche conditions will remain dangerous, and the general avalanche hazard is expected to be at least Considerable on Tuesday. New snow and strong winds will continue to load leeward terrain forming wind slabs and adding weight to deeply buried persistent weak layers. Skiers and riders will continue to be able to easily trigger small to large wind slabs in steep, wind loaded terrain. Natural activity will also be possible. Persistent deep slab avalanches could be human triggered, occur naturally or step down from the release of a wind slab. Involvement in one of these destructive, large to very large avalanches will almost certainly result in another fatality. It is critical for skiers and riders to choose the appropriate terrain for the current avalanche conditions. Play it safe tomorrow and come home to your friends and family; stay off of and out from underneath terrain steeper than 30 degrees.

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