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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Highlights

At the mid and upper elevations, new snow is forming shallow wind slabs in steep leeward terrain and is further loading existing persistent slabs where weak faceted snow lurks near the base of the snowpack. Skiers or riders have the potential to trigger small surface slides or the persistent slabs, which could be large, even after a slope is tracked. This could occur due to the increased load caused by a combination of the traveler and the new snow or when a particularly thin or weak spot on a slope is impacted. Inspecting the snowpack to the ground to evaluate whether the weak layer is present is essential to identifying slope stability. Avalanches at low elevations are unlikely today.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2

    Large persistent slabs avalanches up to four feet in depth can be human triggered on steep slopes at the mid and upper elevations. These slabs lie on north facing terrain at 8000 feet. As elevation increases, this weak snow layer increases in size and involves more and more aspects. By 9000 feet, east and west facing slopes also have the instability. At high elevations, southwest and southeast facing slopes may also be underlain in areas where snow did not melt in November. Additional snowfall today will slowly increase the sensitivity of these slabs.

Avalanche Discussion

Periods of snow are expected until 11 pm. From that time through noon on Christmas, periods of light snow are expected. Christmas afternoon holds a chance for flurries as skies slowly clear. Temperatures in the mountains are to start in the teen tomorrow with highs near twenty degrees. Southwest to west winds are to be light. If several more inches of snow is received overnight, the general avalanche hazard in the Tetons will be Considerable at the mid and upper elevations. Skiers and riders will have the potential to trigger wind slabs to eighteen inch depths and deeper persistent slabs to as much as four feet. Avalanches at low elevations will remain unlikely. In the Southwest Trails and Togwotee pass areas, the danger rating will remain Moderate with the persistent slab problem continuing above 8000 feet in areas where the weak faceted snow that was buried in late November could still fail. Do not underestimate the Moderate rating as slopes that have been tracked could still fail if a particular weak spot is impacted. Have a safe and merry Christmas day.

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