Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
4 · High
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Out of date — this forecast expired 10 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

VERY DANGEROUS AVALANCHE CONDITIONS EXIST, AND TRAVEL IN AVALANCHE TERRAIN IS NOT RECOMMENDED. A very large cycle of avalanche activity has occurred of the past several days. Two avalanche problems will confront backcountry travelers today. First, skiers and riders are very likely to trigger large to very large, recently developed wind slabs above 7,500 feet, and naturally activity remains likely. Second, wet slabs will be possible below 9,000 feet.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    2–3

    In the last week, the Southwest Trails area has received close to seven inches of snow water equivalent. Very strong southwesterly to westerly ridgetop winds have accompanied this snowfall. This scenario has formed dense wind slabs above 7,500 feet. These slides could fail on density breaks within the recent snowfall, and possibly down to layers of faceted snow from January. Slab depths could reach five feet if failure occurs on deeper layers. If afternoon sun occurs, the likelihood of these slides will increase.

  • Wet Slabs

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

    While the surface of the snowpack froze overnight, the upper portion is still saturated, warm and wet. Below 9,000, skiers and riders could trigger wet slabs involving the majority of the snowpack. Wet loose sluffs will also be possible. If mostly clear skies prevail in the afternoon, the likelihood of triggering these slides will increase and natural activity will become possible.

Avalanche Discussion

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )The stream of moist air from the southwest will shift to the east, and snowfall will decrease over the area from the northwest to the southeast. Overnight temperatures in the mountains will be in the mid teens before rising into the upper teens during the day. The valleys will drop into the low 20s by the early morning hours and remain below freezing throughout the day. Westerly ridgetop winds will range from 20 to 30 miles per hour.The general avalanche hazard could drop to Considerable on Saturday depending on the amount of new snow received overnight and the degree to which temperatures cool. Skiers and riders venturing into avalanche terrain will still be likely to trigger large to very large avalanches with slab depths up to four feet. If the hazard remains High, TRAVEL IN AVALANCHE TERRAIN IS NOT RECOMMENDED.

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