Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Look for signs of wind drifted snow, such as cracking or stiffened surfaces, where triggering an avalanche is most possible today. Monitor increasing wind and snow transport during the day forming deeper and more reactive wind slabs by the afternoon. In addition, deeper weak layers remain suspect on thin, rocky, and wind affected slopes.

 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Westerly winds have crafted recent snow into firmer slabs less than 2 feet deep the last two days continuing today. SW winds are forecasted around 20 mph increasing to 30 mph late afternoon/tonight at 10,000’. The most reactive wind slabs will be found in the upper elevations on open, exposed terrain such as ridgelines, cross loaded gullies and aprons below cliff bands. Be alert in the alpine above treeline. Wind slabs may be found on very isolated terrain in the middle elevations. Monitor active wind transport of recent snow throughout the day with increased wind speeds. Look for signs of wind drifted snow such as pillows, cracking or stiffened surfaces. If you encounter these signs seek sheltered terrain.

    In addition, watch for instability of recent snow with warmer temperatures and stronger solar influence on southerly aspects as skies clear including lower elevations. 

     

    (2/27/2024)

    Small (D.5), soft wind slab easily releasing on lee side of a ridge at 10,000 feet. This is an example of where and what type of problem you're most likely to encounter today. Expect larger amounts of snow in any avalanche triggered in the northern parts of this forecast zone

     

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Weak layers are persisting in the snowpack beneath hard slabs 3-5 feet deep. These layers are trending dormant without any stress from rapidly changing conditions. There are a lot of slopes where this problem is unlikely. Thin spots (trigger points) where the overlying slab is shallow and riders can impact these weak layers are most common in steep, rocky, unsupported and wind affected terrain. Be mindful if traveling in terrain with those characteristics. Using your probe to check for thin, shallow slabs above weak snow can help you gain a better understanding of the slopes where you should remain suspect. 

    The Wyoming Range harbors a weaker and shallower snowpack that is easier to impact these weak layers. The Snake and Salt River Ranges hold a deeper snowpack where this is less likely. However, thin areas where weak layers are more reactive can be found across the entire zone.

    (2/17/2024)

    A good example of steep, rocky and wind affected terrain where the persistent slab problem is prevalent.

Avalanche Discussion

Bonus Day on the Leap Year

February has provided ample amounts of deep powder snow, so it seems only right that we get an extra day to celebrate. Taking a deep dive into the weather station data, one would assume we’d see more widespread wind slab development the last two days. But snow works in peculiar ways. Winds continued to blow last night out of the SW 15-20 mph so managing wind slabs while traveling should be on the forefront of your mind in upper elevations. Wind is forecasted to increase late afternoon into tonight so monitor wind speed if they increase earlier than expected. This is especially relevant if you’re traveling near large wind funnels such as canyons or alpine terrain. Check for any new snow instability on steep slopes, particularly on southerly aspects where recent snow sits on a crust as skies clear with stronger solar influence. Today we get a quick break in storms. Tonight and into the next several days another storm approaches with rapid loading. This will increase avalanche danger. Stay tuned.

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