Avalanche forecast

Tetons

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Human triggered avalanches remain possible at the middle and upper elevations today. Soft slabs that are around a foot thick will be reactive to human triggering, especially on steep, unsupported slopes that receive direct sunlight. Pay attention to signs of instability such as cracking within wind drifted snow and minimize exposure time in and around steep, sunlit slopes. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Soft wind slabs that average 1-2 feet in thickness will be reactive to human triggering in specific locations throughout the middle and upper elevations. Humans are mostly likely to trigger these slabs in steep, unsupported terrain features that are exposed to direct sunlight. Terrain features could include steep ridges and spines, couloirs, and slopes in and around cliff bands. 

    These slabs are the remnants of the most recent atmospheric river event that occured from March 14-16. Winds started off strong and southerly, and eventually died off and veered all the way to the NNE. Snowfall totals ranged from 12 to 16 inches with around 1.7 inches of SWE. Temperatures cooled into the single digits after the storm pass, helping to settle and condense the new snow. This has resulted in uniform slabs throughout the terrain that are on average 1 foot thick and 4F in hardness. 

    Loose snow and Cornices: loose snow avalanches (both dry and wet) could pose a threat to individuals in very steep sunlit terrain at all elevations today. Cornice collapse could trigger unusually large avalanches for the given conditions. 

    (3/16/2023) Photo: Daniel Nagy

Avalanche Discussion

No new snow to report for the Tetons today. Temperatures are starting off in the single digits in many of the valleys and on the peaks but are expected to climb into the 30s in the valleys and 20s on the peaks. Winds have been light and variable with a predominantly easterly component.

Recent human triggered avalanches involving the most recent storm snow have occured throughout the Tetons. These avalanches have been soft slabs averaging about a foot in depth (up to size 2) and they have occured on aspects ranging from North through East through South.

Current snow surfaces are composed of new snow and sun crusts. Much of this surface snow has been wind affected above 9500 feet. The new snow/old snow interface lies about a foot below the surface. 

Regions covered