Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 9 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Temperatures are starting out 15 to 20 degrees cooler than yesterday morning. Conditions continue to be dangerous as persistent deep slab avalanches remain the primary concern. Above 7,500 feet, skiers and riders could trigger these slabs to depths up to five feet on a variety of aspects. Backcountry travelers could also trigger newly developed pockets of shallow soft slab and loose snow sluffs in steep, leeward terrain near upper elevation ridgelines. The release of one of these new soft slabs could step down and trigger a persistent deep slab below. Managing your terrain with a conservative approach will continue to be the safest way to avoid being caught in a large to very large, destructive avalanche. Skiers and riders might be able to trigger an isolated pocket of slab up to two feet deep in very steep, shaded terrain below 7,500 feet.

Avalanche problems

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

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

    The new snow that fell in the past 24 hours has added an additional load to weak, faceted snow that formed during the early December drought period. While the likelihood of triggering persistent deep slab avalanches has significantly decreased since last week’s avalanche cycle, the consequences remain high. Being caught in one of these slides would likely be fatal. These slabs could be triggered by the first person on a slope or after it has been skied numerous times.

Avalanche Discussion

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Snowfall intensity will decrease overnight with frontal passage, but light snow showers will linger through the day on Saturday. Overnight lows in the mountains will be in the low teens before rising into the mid to upper teens in the afternoon. Westerly ridgetop winds will range from 20 to 30 miles per hour overnight before decreasing and veering to the northwest.The general avalanche hazard is expected to remain CONSIDERABLE on Saturday. Conditions will continue to be dangerous as persistent deep slab avalanches remain the primary concern. Skiers and riders could trigger these slabs to depths up to five feet on a variety of aspects. In the Teton and Southwest Trails forecast zones, backcountry travelers could also trigger newly developed pockets of shallow wind slab in steep, leeward terrain near upper elevation ridgelines. The release of one of these new wind slabs could step down and trigger a persistent deep slab below. Managing your terrain with a conservative approach will continue to be the safest way to avoid being caught in a large to very large, destructive avalanche.

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