Avalanche forecast

Tetons

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Triggering a one to two foot thick, soft slab avalanche will be possible in steep terrain today.  Triggering a slab is most likely on southerly aspects, particularly wind affected ones, where new snow rests on a firm crust.  Dry loose sluffing is likely on all slopes over 35 degrees above 8,500' with larger sluffs capable of carrying you if triggered in larger terrain features.  Avalanche activity may increase if clouds thin out and temperatures warm. Today is a good day to enjoy less consequential terrain while snow settles and bonds. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Wind slab development  was minimal yesterday due to winds that were light enough and that shifted direction enough to reduce wind transport of new snow on the ground. Wind velocities increase enough today to  make soft wind slabs more likely.  Expect some wind affect in the snow near ridgetops and beneath cliffs. Wind will not be strong today but may be strong enough to make new snow slabby and triggerable. 

    (3/19/2023)

     This wind slab avalanche outside Targhee is Steve Baugh Bowl is a good example of what you might be able to trigger today.

  • Storm Slabs

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

    Fifteen to twenty inches of snow has a fallen in the past three days with around half of that falling in the past 24 hours. Avalanches have been limited to small wind slabs and manageable sluffing up until yesterday. New snow last night and today will contribute  to potential new snow avalanche issues, especially on steep, sunlit aspects. Here the new snow may be settling into a  slab, or being blown in to one, with a poor bond to the pre-storm crust.

    While sluffing is a  good avalanche problem to have, piles of sluff can form a thicker, triggerable slab where it accumulates. Have a plan to manage sluffing and beware of cliff features with sluff piles (aka wind slabs) at the base.

    (3/22/2023)

    Storm slab of new snow running on old crust on a sheltered middle elevation slope on Mt. Taylor.

    Photo: Antonioli

Avalanche Discussion

A cautious midset is warranted today due to the new snow and potential wind slab development. While natural avalanches aren't expected, the potential for new slabs to develop, the fast running sluffs and the distribution of the pre-storm crust on sunlit aspects  makes the moderate rating a bit spicy.  Sun and wind sheltered northerly terrain under 35 degrees will provide plenty of fun today while keeping the danger level reasonable.

Regions covered