Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Strong winds and new snow continue to form wind slabs and load persistent weak layers. The winds are expected to continue through this morning and create very dangerous avalanche conditions at the mid and upper elevations. Two-day storm totals are up to 1.5 feet with over 2 inches of moisture. At the mid and upper elevations (above an elevation of 8,000 feet), very large slab avalanches could release naturally or be triggered by the weight of a single person. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended during periods of high hazard. At the lower elevations pockets of wind slab could be human triggered in steep avalanche starting zones.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Winds and new snow continue to increase the load on persistent weak layers that exist near the base of the snowpack. Up to 2.5 inches of moisture has been added to the snowpack since December 8. Large slab avalanches could release naturally or be triggered by the weight of a single person. These destructive slab avalanches have been breaking high on slopes into lower angle terrain, have been remotely triggered and could run long distances. These slides could be 3 to 5 feet deep.

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Wind slabs have formed on leeward aspects at all elevations. These slabs could be up to two feet deep at the mid and upper elevations and smaller at the lower elevations. These fresh slabs could be human triggered on steep slopes and may step down to deeply buried layers of faceted snow at the upper elevations, and on northeast through northwest aspects at the mid-elevations.

Avalanche Discussion

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Pacific moisture will continue to stream into the region. Pulses of moderate to heavy snowfall will continue to occur during the next 24 hours. This flow will continue to favor the Teton Range and the southern portion of our forecast region. Additional snowfall of 10 to 20 inches are possible in the Tetons by midnight tomorrow. Another foot is possible in the other ranges. Valley locations should get another 5 to 8 inches. Conditions will remain mild for mid-December but cooler. Temperatures will be in the teens and 20’s in the mountains and in the 20’s to near 30 in the valleys. West to southwest winds will continue to be strong at 20 to 35 with gusts from 50 to 60 miles per hour along exposed ridge crest during the morning hours on Friday.Persistent weak layers near the base of the snowpack at the mid and upper elevations continue to pose a very significant hazard. Very large avalanches could release naturally or be triggered by the weight of a single person on these problem layers. Large and dangerous slab avalanches could be triggered on these weak layers after a slope has been crossed multiple times by a skier or rider and remotely from flat terrain below or above a steep slope due to the weight of a single person. Travel in avalanche terrain during these conditions requires expert terrain evaluation skills and conservative terrain choices. Strong winds are also forming dense new wind slabs that can be triggered by humans who venture into steep wind loaded avalanche starting zones. At the mid and upper elevations these surface slabs could initiate a deep slab avalanche on the persistent weak layers at the base of the snowpack. The general avalanche hazard rating at the mid and upper elevations will be dependent of the amount of new snow and is expected to be considerable or high. The hazard at the lower elevations is expected to be moderate.

Regions covered