Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 months ago.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

Highlights

Dangerous avalanche conditions exist. Human triggered avalanches up to 2.5 feet deep are likely in steep terrain above 7,500’. Slabs will be largest in wind loaded terrain, but avalanches are also likely on sheltered slopes on the north half of the compass. Avalanches may be triggered from a distance, including gentle terrain below steep slopes. Give steep and consequential terrain a wide margin today as the snowpack adjusts to the recent storm.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Weak layers of snow including surface hoar and facets that formed during a month-long dry period in January are buried 1-2 feet below the surface. New snow within the past 24 hours has loaded these layers and made them more sensitive to triggering today. Triggering an avalanche large enough to bury a person is likely in very steep, shaded terrain above 7,500’. Sheltered north facing slopes are where this problem is at its worst, but other aspects cannot be ruled out given the spotty distribution of weak snow. Recent avalanche activity and collapsing in the snowpack are obvious signs of instability. However, these signs may not be present before triggering. Keep in mind that triggering an avalanche from a distance is possible around very steep slopes and travel plans should be adjusted accordingly.

    This recent avalanche from the Snake River Range is a good example of the persistent slab problem that we are dealing with. Note the wide propagation across slope.

    (2/17/2026)

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    The Salt and Wyoming ranges have received 8-14 inches of medium density snow in the past 48 hours. Moderate winds with direction varying from south to west have redistributed this snow across a variety of aspects and formed wind slabs up to 2 feet deep on leeward slopes. These slabs may be sensitive to the weight of a rider in steep, wind-loaded terrain today. Wind slabs have the potential to step down to deeper weak layers in very steep terrain features on the north half of the compass. If this occurs, avalanches may break deeper and wider than expected.

Avalanche Discussion

A series of storms beginning in the middle of February have gradually built slabs on top of weak snow from a month-long drought in January. The severity of this weak layer varies significantly from slope to slope. Prior to the February storms, the upper snowpack consisted of hard crusts on south facing slopes, wind hardened surfaces on exposed terrain above 9,500’, and faceted snow with patches of surface hoar in shady sheltered terrain above 8,000’. The latter of those surfaces is most concerning now that it is buried. Given the wide variability in drought surfaces, we are left with a persistent slab avalanche problem that is spotty and somewhat difficult to predict. That said, recent human triggered avalanches indicate that this problem is most sensitive in very steep, north facing terrain from 8,000’-9,500’. This is the terrain where triggering an avalanche is most likely and where careful evaluation of the snowpack and terrain is most important for the time being.

Regions covered