Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 7 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Identify wind loaded slopes where riders could trigger avalanches on steep middle to upper elevation terrain. Look for recent avalanches, shooting cracks, and large drifts as signs of unstable snow. The likelihood of triggering weak layers deeper in the snowpack is low across the majority of terrain. Use caution on very steep, rocky, and wind affected slopes where triggering a large avalanche is not out of the question.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Northwest-west wind over the last 72 hours redistributed recent snow into soft slabs 1-2 feet deep. Numerous wind slab avalanches were triggered in adjacent forecast zones yesterday. These slabs will be more stubborn today than yesterday, but still possible. Wind slabs will be most obvious in exposed terrain above treeline, but could exist down to the middle elevations. Look for wind loaded snow in abnormal locations due to the varying wind direction. These could be off leeward ridgelines and avalanche starting zones, or cross-loaded gullies. 

    Watch for recent snow on slopes facing the sun to destabilize during the day. This could increase the sensitivity of wind slabs and small wet or dry loose avalanches.

    (1/10/2026)

    Example of how to identify potentially wind loaded terrain. 

    Photo: Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    A rain crust formed on Christmas exists on all aspects up to 10,000’ and is buried by hard slabs 2-4 feet deep. Weak grains found above and below this crust have shown signs of adjusting to the overlying slab and are becoming less reactive. The slight possibility remains of triggering a large avalanche on this layer in very steep terrain over 35° on mostly shaded aspects. Rocky, unsupported slopes that contain weak trigger points are the most suspect. Large triggers, such as cornices or groups gathering in close proximity, increase the likelihood of impacting buried weak layers.

    Due to the large spatial distribution across this forecast zone, assessing these weak layers before committing to very steep, consequential terrain is critical.

    (1/10/2026)

    Larger triggers such as cornices could initiate buried weak layers in the snowpack. 

    Photo: Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

The forecast area received 2-3 feet of snow from January 2nd-9th. Temperatures decreased during this period creating a right side up snowpack. Varying wind direction from northwest-southwest increased at the end of the storm, forming fresh wind slabs. Numerous human triggered avalanches were reported in steep, wind loaded terrain of adjacent forecast zones yesterday. Fortunately, none of these avalanches resulted in injuries. These wind slabs will be the main concern today, especially when traveling above terrain traps such as trees, cliffs, and gullies. Look for small clues such as textured snow surfaces or fresh cornices. This observation from Angle Mountain highlights the abnormal wind direction very well. 

Deeper in the snowpack, the Christmas rain crust is adjusting the overlying slab and decreasing the likelihood of triggering a large avalanche. The snowpack still needs time to adjust before we are fully confident that this avalanche problem is unreactive across the entire forecast area. As these weak layers become harder to trigger, steeper terrain will be necessary to initiate an avalanche. Use your best judgment to assess the terrain and snowpack to deal with the lingering uncertainty of the persistent slab problem.

Regions covered