Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Human triggered avalanches are likely today at the middle and upper elevations due to the combination of recent snowfall, wind, and buried weak layers. The avalanche hazard will increase throughout the day today as a storm ramps up in intensity. Weak layers of snow are now buried 2-4 feet below the snow surface on most aspects and elevations, but could be deeper in specific terrain. Avalanches may be triggered remotely—from gentler terrain above, below, and to the sides of steep slopes. Conservative decision making and cautious route finding are advised. 

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    There are currently 2 major persistent weak layers buried within the top 2-4 feet of the snowpack. These layers are failing in the easy-moderate range in stability tests. At the upper elevations weak snow exists even deeper in the snowpack, with slab depths from 4 to 6 feet. 

    These layers formed during cold, dry periods in November and the first half of December. Most of the snow that fell in early November turned into 2 mm facets and was buried around November 27th. A layer of surface hoar and near surface facets was buried earlier in the month of December. Both of these interfaces are showing the propensity to propagate a fracture in stability tests.

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Wind slab hazard will  steadily increase throughout the day today. With 4-6 inches of snow forecasted and SW winds gusting into the 30s these slabs could be 1-3 feet deep and sensitive to human triggers. Temperatures and winds are forecasted to peak sometime around early afternoon.

    There is plenty of snow available for transport from the previous storm cycle. 

Avalanche Discussion

There are currently several weak layers of snow buried within the top 3-5 feet of the snowpack in both the Togwotee and Greys forecast Zones at the middle and upper elevations. Lower elevations in the Greys Zone received a fair amount of rain on December 28th and have since refrozen. With more snow and wind on the way these buried weak layers will continue to get stressed, especially in the Togwotee zone where slab depths and densities are starting to reach a critical level. 

Regions covered