Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

The avalanche hazard will begin at Moderate and may rise to Considerable this afternoon as a powerful storm brings up to 10 inches of new snow and strong wind to the mountains. Human triggered avalanches 1-2 feet deep will become likely on steep, wind-loaded slopes at the upper elevations if the weather forecast pans out. Carefully monitor new snowfall amounts and wind-loading as the day progresses and move to low angle terrain before conditions become unstable. 

There is still some potential to trigger a larger avalanche involving buried weak layers on very steep, north facing slopes around 8,500’. Carefully evaluate the snowpack and build in some margin of safety around this terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–1.5

    The upper elevations may receive 6-10 inches of new snow and three quarters of an inch of SWE by evening. Snowfall rates will intensify around noon. Strong to extremely strong winds out of the southwest will redistribute this snow and form dense wind slabs 1-2 feet thick that will be sensitive to the weight of a rider in steep, wind-loaded terrain above 9,000’. Expect slabs to be stubborn to initiate and to form in unusual locations given the high wind speeds. Wind slabs will be smaller and less likely to trigger below 9,000’ due to lower snowfall totals.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    Weak snow formed in January is buried 2 to 3 feet deep below a hard slab. The likelihood of impacting these weak layers has decreased, but cannot be ruled out completely on very steep north facing slopes. Pockets of buried surface hoar are most concerning. The distribution of buried surface hoar is spotty, but has produced avalanches between 8,000 and 9,500 feet on very steep (35°+), shady, and sheltered terrain. Giving very steep, north facing slopes a wide margin is the best way to manage hazard right now due to the difficult to predict nature of this problem, and the high consequence of triggering an avalanche of this size.

    (3/8/2026) Prater Canyon - North 8300’ 

    This avalanche was triggered from the bottom of this sheltered, convex slope which had a skin and ski tracks on it. The avalanche partially buried three riders, one to the chest. A thick ice crust was on the snow surface. 

Avalanche Discussion

A powerful storm is impacting the Northern Rockies. Our forecast zones are just south and west of the main storm track. As a result, there is a good deal of uncertainty regarding snowfall amounts today. Favored areas could pick up to a foot of dense snow by evening, or we could get skunked with only a few inches of snow. The wind, however, is not uncertain. It will be very windy and any snow that does fall will be moved around. Consistent evaluation of new snow stability will be the name of the game today. The avalanche hazard will be similar to yesterday if it doesn’t snow. On the other hand, expect the hazard to increase if it is snowing and blowing out there.

Regions covered