Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Human triggered avalanches are likley at the middle and upper elevations where new snow and wind have conspired to build fresh slabs on top of buried weak layers and crusts. Areas of the forecast zone that are of particular concern include the Snake River Canyon and the Wyoming Range. Pay attention to signs of instability such as recent avalanche activity and cracking of wind drifted snow. 

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2.5

    Weak layers of snow that formed during the month of February are now buried around 2-3 feet deep. The most recent high pressure spell created crusts and facets that are now buried 1-2 feet deep (March 20th interface). Avalanches could be triggered remotely, especially soft slabs that overlie the most recent buried weak layer.

    Pay attention to signs of instability such as audible collapsing of the snowpack and recent avalache activity. You can use your shovel to dig a snowpit and perform a stability tests such as an extended column test to evaluate the presence and reactivity of buried weak layers. 

    Dry loose avalanches will pose a threat or potentially trigger storm slabs if snowfall rates excede 1 inch per hour.

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Fresh wind slabs that are 1-2 feet thick and soft will develop throughout the day in areas that are leeward of WNW winds. 

    Look for wind slabs on exposed terrain features such as ridgelines and open slopes near the head of drainage features. Pay attention to signs of instability such as cracking within wind drifted snow. 

Avalanche Discussion

Recent avalanche activity has included a multitude of small storm and wind slabs over the past few days, as well as some medium sized persistent slab avalanches in the Snake River Canyon (observation here). Many of these storm slabs have failed on small near surface facets (thus categorized as persistent slabs for simplicity).

Snowpack depths and characteristics vary immensely throughout the forecast zone. Shallower and weaker snow is to be found in the more continental ranges such as the Wyoming Range, while the Snake River Core (around Palisades and Powder Peaks) has a deeper snowpack more akin to the Tetons. The northern Salt River Range is also trending towards a deeper and more stable snowpack. Buried weak layers and crusts within the top meter of the snowpack are more prevalent in the Palisades Range and in the Snake River Canyon, while deeper buried weak layers are more prevalent in the Wyoming Range.

Regions covered