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

Above 8,000 feet, persistent slab avalanches with depths to four feet could be triggered. On March 17, two large slides occurred and sadly one resulted in a fatal accident. The distribution of these large avalanches seems to be isolated to areas that had a thin snowpack prior to the March snowfall, such as repeater slide paths from early January. Today, the impact of a winter storm could increase the sensitivity of these persistent layers and form shallow wind slabs on leeward slopes. The release of a small wind slab could also trigger a larger avalanche. Below 8,000 feet, the avalanche hazard is Low and avalanche activity will be limited to small slides on steep isolated terrain features. Riders and skiers should monitor the development of this storm and be aware of areas with a heightened hazard today.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Persistent weak layers can be tricky to predict and may not show any warning signs until it is too late. Snowfall since March 5 has formed into a slab over crusts and weak faceted snow. These slabs have slab depths from one to four feet and range from soft to hard, with the denser slabs at the upper elevations on wind-loaded slopes. Persistent avalanches can also be triggered from below the slope, so it is advised to stay out from under avalanche terrain today.

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Strong winds from the south, west, and north along with today’s snowfall will form small wind slabs at the upper elevations in the afternoon. These wind slab avalanches are expected to be small, with depths less than a foot, on steep leeward terrain features. As winds change direction with the passing cold front, loading patterns will change and slopes could be cross loaded.

Avalanche Discussion

Lingering snow showers will continue into the evening hours and taper off by morning. New snowfall amounts will be in the trace to 2” range. Between 8,000 and 9,000 feet overnight low temperatures will be in the teens and rise into the high twenties to low thirties tomorrow. Winds will be out of the northwest at 15-20 mph. Cloud cover will decrease overnight, with partly cloudy conditions expected tomorrow.In The Southwest Trails and Tetons the danger will remain Moderate above 8,000 feet. Wind slabs up to 1 foot in depth will be possible to trigger in steep wind loaded terrain. Deeper weak layers will remain a threat and allow for slabs up to 3 feet in depth to be triggered and carry significant consequences. Below 8,000 feet avalanches will be unlikely and the danger will remain Low.In the Togowotee Pass/Continental Divide forecast area the danger will remain Moderate above 9,000 feet. It will be possible to trigger isolated pockets of wind slab in steep terrain. Similar to the other forecast areas the more significant threat will be for triggering slabs sitting on persistent weak layers buried up to 2 feet in depth. Below 9,000 feet avalanches will be unlikely and the danger will remain Low.

Regions covered