Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

As temperatures rise above freezing and snow surfaces melt, the snow could quickly transition from stable to unstable, and wet slab avalanches will be possible. Although the warming temperatures will increase the potential for triggering an avalanche, conditions are dangerous, and a person could trigger a large to very large slab avalanche, any time during the day, which will likely have deadly consequences. As sunlight and rising temperatures further weaken these slabs, they will become more sensitive and could release naturally. Below 8000 feet, avalanches are still possible but are expected to be much smaller. Conservative decision-making is essential today, and remember that even small slides can be enough to bury or kill someone.

Avalanche problems

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

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

    The Southwest Trails’ snowpack has poor structure. The potential for very large, deep hard slab avalanches continues. Larger triggers may be necessary to cause their failure but they could still fail when a single person crosses a thin spot of the slab. Use caution as failure could occur after a slope is tracked several times. If triggered, crown depths could be 4 to 8 feet above 8,000 feet and 2 to 4 feet below that elevation.

Avalanche Discussion

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )A low-pressure system will move across the area tomorrow; skies will become partly cloudy and no precipitation is expected. The day will start inverted with valley temperatures in the single digits and mountain temperatures in the low teens. During the day, temperatures are expected to warm into the mid to upper 30s, and ridgetop winds will be light and variable.The avalanche hazard is expected to be Considerable in the Grey’s River and Togwotee Pass forecast areas, where it is possible for a person to trigger a deep persistent slab avalanche with depths to 8 feet. The likelihood of triggering one of these slabs will increase with the daily warming. In the Teton forecast area, the hazard will decrease overnight and also increase as the day warms. The avalanche hazard is expected to be Moderate, and a person could trigger a slab avalanche up to 3 feet in depth. The chances for triggering a deeper slab in the Tetons is becoming unlikely. At the upper elevations, there remains the possibility for a dry snow avalanche in steep avalanche terrain. In all the forecast areas below 9,000 feet and on solar aspects, wet slides are possible and may become likely during the warmest periods of the day, especially if skies clear. In areas with a shallow snowpack, there could be wet slab avalanches and on steep slopes wet loose slides. Backcountry travelers should monitor the snow’s surfaces and avoid steep slopes when the snow becomes damp; because as temperatures warm above freezing the snowpack can quickly change from stable to unstable.

Regions covered