Avalanche forecast

Tetons

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago.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

Highlights

Very dangerous avalanche conditions continue to exist. Large, destructive natural avalanches happened yesterday, and you are very likely to trigger an avalanche today on most steep slopes. Avalanches can be triggered in areas where the wind has built drifts and in areas sheltered from the wind, as well as while approaching or riding a slope, from adjacent terrain, or below. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended. 

We are sorry to report that a fatal avalanche occurred Sunday in the Salt River Range. The preliminary report can be found here. Our condolences go out to those involved.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–3

    Natural avalanches continue to occur, and any avalanche you trigger today will likely be deadly. Avalanches are failing on very weak snow formed in December and are breaking 3 to 5 feet deep in the middle and upper elevations. Below 7,500’, slab depths are in the 1 to 3-foot range. At upper elevations, these avalanches may break wider than you expect or connect two pieces of steeper terrain with lower-angled features that may appear friendlier but, in fact, are not. Avoid avalanche terrain on upper-elevation slopes. All aspects (shaded and sunny) at all elevations are suspect, and only the lowest elevation slopes that were bare ground before January 4th have escaped this problem. Slabs could be triggered from a distance or wait until you have committed to the slope to release.

    ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION

    Continued winds and shifting directions are stripping and loading recent snowfall in unexpected areas. Despite colder temperatures, expect to find wind slabs in upper-elevation terrain and possibly on exposed mid-elevation slopes. While these slabs are hazardous in their own right, they also add stress to the weak snow described above. Any wind slab you trigger can also trigger a slide on our weak snow layer.

     

    (1/15/2024)

    Recent avalanche on E Face of Taylor.  Occurred sometime between Jan 14 and 15. There are two crowns, and it is hard to distinguish if they are the same, separate, or sympathetic events. The Laurel Dana slide on the left side of the photo was reported on Jan 14. 

    Photo: John Fitzgerald

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3

    Weak snow formed during a dry period in November persists at the base of the snowpack. This layer is now buried about 5 to 6 feet deep in the Tetons and is weakest on the north half of the compass. The recent loading event has pushed this weak layer to its breaking point in some locations. Deep slab events have been reported at Grand Targhee and in Grand Teton National Park over the past few days. These very large avalanches are most likely to occur when an avalanche triggered in the most recent snow steps down to weak November snow. Any avalanche involving the entire snowpack will be destructive and likely unsurvivable.

    (1/13/2024)

    A very large (D3) avalanche in the Static/Albright cirque. Note the areas in the apron that stepped down to older snow.

Avalanche Discussion

There is no outsmarting the current snowpack setup. Remember that stepping out of bounds at a ski area or out of your car at the Pass is stepping into high danger. We find ourselves still amid an extensive avalanche cycle, and though we may be on the tail end of this cycle, we're certainly not out of the woods. A second incoming storm system bringing heavy winds and warm temperatures is set to hit late tomorrow and will give this snowpack (and our avalanche eyes) no rest. We have an unprecedented and widespread amount of weak snow that is particularly wicked, and just a dusting of snow and wind was able to tip things over the edge yesterday to produce natural avalanches. The character of this weak snow is unlike what many folks have ever experienced. It's a rare season, even in a lifetime in the mountains, to glass just a small portion of one side of a mountain range and have a hard time not seeing a wide, destructive avalanche. Any and all terrain needs to be looked at with a fresh lens today and moving forward. This means dialing back slope angles, even in terrain that feels more familiar, & recognizing the consequences of even a small avalanche in that terrain.

We have received many avalanche observations over the past few days. Your community appreciates it, as do we. Please take a moment to look at the recent events here.

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