Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 months ago.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

Highlights

Today it will be possible to trigger very large avalanches easily capable of burying a person.  Slabs could be up to 4 feet thick in wind loaded terrain and 2-3 feet thick in wind-sheltered terrain. Either type of avalanche could occur without signs of instability and could be triggered from a distance or, beside or beneath a slope. Ride low angle terrain under 30 degrees and allow time for the weak snow to adjust to the new load from the most recent winter storm.  Don't let clearing skies and sunshine fool you; the snowpack remains dangerous.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Recent snowfall has further stressed the January drought layer that has been responsible for avalanches every day for the past week.   Most of the avalanche activity prior to the recent winter storm has been 1-2 feet thick on N and NE aspects above 7,500' but the 2.3 inches of water weight (in 12-16" new snow) could tip the balance towards instability on more aspects. This added weight of recent snow will also make the prime aspects (N-NE) even more reactive with even thicker slabs. 

    Now is a good time to reel in your desires for steep slopes and rowdy lines until we better understand the behavior of the current snowpack.  Recent avalanches have been triggered from a distance, a trend likely to continue. Today is no time to FAFO on consequential slopes, especially over terrain traps.

    (2/24/2026) This large avalanche was triggered from a distance on a north facing slope up Willow Creek. The crown thickness was well over 2 feet with debris running down through the trees to the valley floor.

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Wind speeds at Mt. Coffin reached well over 100 mph for an eight hour period during the recent storm. Expect to find slabs 2-3 feet deep even in mid-elevations. Slabs will be hard in more exposed areas making them capable of failing well after you have commited to travel on a wind affected slope.  Remember that the recent storm started cold,  with lighter winds deposited soft weak stellar snowflakes as a weak layer under the new wind and storm slabs. Though yesterday's heat and even rain to 8,000' encouraged some settlements, this cold weak snow remains. The wind slabs need another day to heal.  Steep rocky zones are especially suspect and wind loading on mid-elevation slopes where the buried surface hoar and faceted snow exists will be further starained and ready to snap. 

     

    (2/23/2026)

    Look for signs of wind-loading like cornices at ridgetops today. These areas may still be senstitive to triggering.

    9400' E/NE aspect

    Photo: Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

Temperatures warmed through the recent storm creating an upside down situation that was then capped by rain and mixed forms which are now a crust up to about 8,000'.  Above 8,000', riding conditions improve though snow is certainly dense. Wet loose slides below that elevation were observed yesterday though most were harmless and involved the upper six inches of the recent snow. Today's temperatures and wind should be cool enough to limit further wet activity but consider the destabilizing effect of sunshine on the upper snowpack in wind sheltered, confined and/or rocky terrain. A firm crust is present beneath the new snow on solar aspects which may not be entiorely bonded to the recent storm snow.

Regions covered