Avalanche forecast

Tetons

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 9 years ago.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

Above 8,500 feet, backcountry travelers venturing into steep, avalanche-prone terrain might still be able to trigger large slab avalanches in areas that held snow from October. Mountain temperatures are starting out 10 to 15 degrees warmer than yesterday morning. As the day warms, the chance for shallow wet slides will increase on sunlit aspects. To avoid these wet slides, transition to shaded terrain as snow surfaces begin to soften. The snowpack is mostly stable below 8,500 feet. The Grand Targhee Resort is now closed to uphill travel as they begin setup and avalanche reduction for their opening day on Friday.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    In terrain that held snow from October, the chance lingers for backcountry travelers to trigger persistent slab avalanches up to four feet deep at the higher elevations. The old snow surfaces from October can be found on northwesterly to easterly aspects at the upper elevations and northerly aspects down to an elevation of 8,500 feet. While the likelihood of triggering these slabs is decreasing, the consequences remain high. Some slopes that held snow from October are stable, and others may remain suspect. This uncertainty is based on elevation, aspect, snow depth, the presence or absence of crusts and how the slope was loaded. In this situation, snow pits are useful for identifying snow structure. However, when evaluating the snowpack, remember that stability tests should be used to test for signs of instability, and the absence of significant test results should not be used as an excuse to ski a slope.

Avalanche Discussion

A quick moving system will swing through the area tonight and Tuesday. Light snowfall is forecast to begin in the morning and result in accumulations of 1 to 3 inches in the mountains by evening. Temperatures will drop in the 20s. Southwest winds will increase to 25 to 35 with gusts to 50 miles per hour.It seems unlikely that a human could trigger a large slab avalanche on the October/November snow interface. Suspect slopes for that scenario would be north facing avalanche starting zones and cliff areas that are above an elevation of 8,500 feet. Due to the uncertainty of this assessment and the consequences involved, a conservative approach to suspect terrain remains warranted. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be LOW on Tuesday in the Teton and Southwest Trails area and MODERATE above an elevation of 9,000 feet in the Togwotee Pass area.

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