Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 8 months ago.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

Highlights

Triggering a slab avalanche one to two feet thick is likely today. Avoid areas with signs of wind loading especially in very steep and rocky alpine areas. New and drifted snow will also stress buried weak layers. While unlikely to fail, an avalanche on a weak layer deeper in the snowpack can’t be ruled out. Heads up conditions today will require careful route finding and safe travel techniques.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    This forecast zone has received 6-8” of new snow in the past two days along with strong southwest and westerly winds at velocities capable of moving snow. Four to six inches more snow and strong southwesterly wind at the ridgetops will continue to build wind slabs today. Wind slabs exist where you see signs of wind-loading such as drifts, cornices, scalloped or textured surfaces and areas that have been scoured to the ground. Shooting cracks, wind whales and hollow sounding firm slabs are red flags that signal you’ve found the problem. Avoid steep slopes that show these warning signs.

    (12/27/2025)

    Shooting cracks are a clear sign of unstable snow. 

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1.5–3

    The warm temperatures and rain in the region of the past weeks has created a number of crusts deeper in the snowpack. These crusts and the weak snow nearby have been responsible for larger avalanches in the region. Observations in the Salt River and Wyoming Ranges have been sparse so it is hard to pin down the exact distribution of this problem. Dig occasionally to find these crusts, especially the ones one to two feet beneath the surface, and look for thin layers of weak, sugary snow nearby. You’re most likely to find these layers above 8,000’, especially in steep, rocky terrain. Continue to evaluate steep terrain carefully, feel for these layers with a probe or dig a quick pit and always practice safe travel habits.

    A large persistet slab avalanche observed after the Christmas storm cycle in very steep, complex terrain. 

Avalanche Discussion

Persistent slab concerns in this zone come with a lot of uncertainty. Recent weather doesn’t appear to have applied enough load to activate these layers yet but we are creeping up on that situation. Stress on the weak layers formed just after Christmas and more recently around New Year’s should enter your risk decision making today due to the continuing load being applied. The Wyoming Range has been drier with a thinner snowpack that makes it easier to trigger a buried weak layer.

Observations such as this and this help us all gain a better understanding of the nature and extent of avalanche problems. Thanks to all who have submitted! You can submit your own through our website or even by texting the number at the bottom of every page of the website.

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