Avalanche forecast

Snake River Range

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 8 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Fresh snow and strong winds have created dangerous avalanche conditions. Triggering an avalanche breaking 1-4 feet deep is likely in steep terrain. An avalanche failing within the new snow could step down into deeper buried layers, producing much larger and more destructive avalanches. Pay close attention to changing weather conditions and carefully evaluate the terrain you choose to engage with today.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Winds picked up overnight and there is plenty of fresh snow to redistribute, creating fresh wind slabs. These slabs will be easy to trigger and could break 1-3 feet deep on steep, leeward slopes. With winds blowing from the southwest, slopes facing north and east will be the most heavily loaded, though gusty winds could also form slabs on other aspects. Watch for cracking around your feet and avoid steep wind loaded areas.

    In places that have not been wind affected, it will be possible to trigger loose snow avalanches sliding on melt freeze crusts buried at the beginning of this storm. While not large, these avalanches could run farther and faster than expected.

    (1/4/2026)

    Textbook example of cracking indicating a fresh wind slab. This suggests the slope below could be unstable if steep.

    Photo: Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    The middle part of the snowpack consists of a variety of crusts and weak snow layers. The possibility of triggering a very large and dangerous avalanche still exists. Large triggers such as an avalanche failing in the new snow,have the possibility of triggering a weak layer lurking deeper in the snowpack. With wind and snow on the menu, carefully evaluate very steep slopes that have these buried weak layers and remember that the snowpack needs time to adjust from the rapid loading we are seeing today.

    (1/1/2026)

    Large, hard slab avalanche failing near the ground. It was remotely triggered at by a snowcat moving snow. 10' deep crown.

Avalanche Discussion

This winter has been full of dramatic, and some might say abnormal weather patterns that more closely resemble an Alaskan maritime snowpack, than our usual Wyoming intermountain one. These periods of unseasonable warm temperatures with rain, followed by cold temperatures have left the snowpack in a bit of turmoil with multiple crusts in the snowpack.

We are currently monitoring the Christmas Crust, formed during a rain on snow event. This sits around 2 feet below the surface and has a thin layer of facets sitting on top of it. It exists below 10,000 feet (because that is where the rain line was) and we have seen information in test results and avalanches suggesting this could be an avalanche player as snow and wind continue to add additional load.

Weak snow and crusts near the ground are also a concern. The probability of triggering an avalanche failing on one of these layers is unlikely and may require a large trigger, such as multiple people on the slope or an avalanche failing in the new snow. These avalanches would be very large and dangerous and should still be accounted for in terrain selection.

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