Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Out of date — this forecast expired 12 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Abundant sunshine, warm temperatures and calm conditions will combine to heat up and destabilize a snowpack that is struggling to adjust to 36 days of loading. The hazard will increase at all elevations as the day warms. At the mid and upper elevations deep persistent slabs with depths of four to eight feet and dense surface slabs with depths to two feet could be triggered by the weight of a single person. At the lower elevations wet slides are possible on steep slopes after snow surfaces have softened.

Avalanche problems

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    3

    Up to 200 inches of new snow with 23 inches of moisture has accumulated on weak January drought surfaces. Killer hard slabs with crown depths to eight feet could be triggered by the weight of a single person. These dangerous slabs could be triggered on slopes that have been crossed multiple times by other riders or skiers and will become increasingly sensitive to human triggers as temperatures increase.

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Dense winds slabs up to two feet in depth will become increasingly sensitive to human triggers as the day warms. Once triggered these surface slabs could cause the failure of an underlying deep persistent slab.

  • Wet Slabs

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

    The potential for humans to trigger wet slides on steep snow covered slopes at the lower elevations will increase as snow surfaces soften.

Avalanche Discussion

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )A high pressure ridge will bring dry conditions, sunshine and a warming trend. Skies will be mostly sunny on Saturday. Temperatures will rise from overnight lows in the teens into the 30s and 40s. Winds will be nearly calm from the northwest.Abundant sunshine, warm temperatures and calm conditions will combine to heat up and destabilize a snowpack that is struggling to maintain stability. The general avalanche hazard will increase during the day and will be CONSIDERABLE at all elevations. Very dangerous deep slabs and large surface slabs will be sensitive to human triggers at the mid and upper elevations. At the lower elevations the threat from wet slides will persist on steep, snow covered slopes.

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