Avalanche forecast

Snake River Range

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Human-triggered avalanches 1-3 feet thick may be likely as wind moves snow.  Look for drifting and plumes of snow in the air at ridgetops as indictors for wind slab growth.  While the chance for triggering a deeper weak layer has diminished, it's a good idea to dig to look for it before committing to terrain over 35 degrees. 

A persistent slab avalanche was triggered  yesterday near Prater Canyon in the Salt River Range. This observation is a great reminder that it is still possible to trigger an avalanche on the January drought layer.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Weak snow from January lies 2-3 feet below  the snow's surface. Though this drought layer has gained strength with time, triggering a large and widely propagating avalanche remains possible, especially in very steep terrain above about 8,000'.  You couldn't find better evidence that this remains a rpoblem than the observation from Prater Canyon yesterday.

    This problem continues to deserve respect, especially in high consequence terrain and places where the slab may be thin enough for the weight of a person or sled to hit the weak layer. There may not be a warning sign bfore triggering this layer as the slab above has grown stiff and stubborn.

    Cornice Fall: Large triggers such as a falling cornice could trigger a larger avalanche. While unlikely, it's a good idea to give cornices some space.

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

    This avalanche was triggered yesterday 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. 

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Twelve inches of snow fell over the past five days.  During this time, winds were relatively light. In the past 12 hours, southwest winds have ramped up to 45-50 mph,  and will continue at similar speeds  through the day, potentially ripping  up ice crust where it exists and moving loose snow beneath.  Slabs may be 1-3 feet deep, are likely to be hard and may be sensitive to triggering, esepcially if they bond poorly to existing ice and rime crusts.  You are most likely to find these slabs above 9,000' where significant fetch exists. Keep an eye on snow shower activity today which could add 2-3 inches new snow to this problem. The degree to which the rime and ice crust contain loose snow on the ground will determine the size and likelihood of triggering a wind slab. 

    (3/8/2026)

    3/7 rain crust up to 10,200' on all aspects.

    Photo: Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

You'll find lots of refrozen snow and crusts around on solar slopes and to mid-elevation northerlies as well.  A lot of uncertainty exists in the forecast due to unknowns regarding the distribution and durability of ice lens and rime crusts on the surface. Rain showers 36-48 hours ago and some clearing skies and warm temperatures yesterday have no doubt made snow on the ground harder to move but the degree to which that is true remains uncertain. 

Thanks for submitting your observations. Observations like the one from Prater last night can save lives!

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