Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 years ago.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

Highlights

Dangerous avalanche conditions exist above 7,500 feet, where skiers and riders could easily trigger small to large slab avalanches in steep avalanche terrain. Strong winds over the past few days have formed wind slabs on the surface and added weight to weak layers within the snowpack. The initiation of a newly formed surface slab could result in the failure of deeper weak layers and trigger a large to very large avalanche that could run long distances. Below 7,500 feet, slab avalanches are expected to be smaller and isolated to steep avalanche terrain. Cautious route-finding and conservative terrain selections are advised for safe travel in the mountains today. Backcountry travelers should also monitor the approaching storm system as strong winds and heavy snowfall could quickly increase the hazard.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    The most recent snowstorm over the weekend was followed by a few days of strong winds. These conditions added weight to buried persistent weak layers increasing the potential for backcountry travelers to trigger dangerous slab avalanches two to five feet in depth. Yesterday, on a slope above the south fork of Indian Creek in the Palisades area of the Snake River Range, skiers remotely triggered a slab avalanche. In the past few weeks, there have been many easily triggered avalanches in the Palisades area. The snowpack throughout the Grey’s River forecast area has many buried weak layers. Careful evaluation of the snowpack is essential to safely move through avalanche terrain as these large to very large avalanches could have severe or deadly consequences.

Avalanche Discussion

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )As pacific moisture moves into the region, light snowfall is expected to develop overnight and into tomorrow with limited accumulation. For tomorrow afternoon, the National Weather Service is issuing a Winter Weather Advisory, and significant snowfall is expected to last through Saturday. Mountain temperatures should drop into the low-teens and then tomorrow rise into the upper-teens. Westerly ridgetop winds are expected to be twenty to thirty miles per hour with higher gusts. In the Togwotee Pass and Grey’s River forecast areas, the avalanche hazard is expected to be Considerable above 7,500 feet. Backcountry travelers could trigger slab avalanches one to five feet in depth on steep avalanche terrain. Smaller surface slabs, which could be more easily triggered, have the potential to step down into deeper weak layers, resulting in large to very large avalanches. Below 7,500 feet, slab avalanches will be one to three feet and limited to steep avalanche terrain. In the Teton forecast area, the avalanche hazard is expected to be Moderate. It will be possible for riders and skiers to trigger wind slabs one to two feet in depth at the mid and upper elevations. In some isolated areas, the potential remains for surface slabs to step down to deeper weak layers. At the lower elevations and where the snowpack is thin, persistent weak layers could be triggered by the weight of a single person. Backcountry travelers should monitor tomorrow’s storm as conditions could quickly change and increase the hazard when heavy snowfall and strong winds move into the area.

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