Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Avalanche danger will rise from Low this morning to Considerable by the afternoon due to clear skies, warm temperatures, and strong solar radiation. As last night's shallow refreeze begins to soften, slopes will destabilize and wet snow avalanches will become likely. If you are planning to travel in or around avalanche terrain, get in and out of the mountains early and minimize time under steep terrain as the day goes on. Pay attention to the snow, as refrozen snow surfaces begin to melt and become slushy and punchy, the snowpack is destabilizing and avalanche danger is rising. Wet avalanches can be unpredictable, breaking wider and entraining more snow than expected.

Avalanche problems

  • Wet Slabs

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

    Three nights of above freezing temperatures coupled with hot daytime temperatures continue to increase the likelihood of wet snow avalanches.

    • Wet slab avalanches will increase in likelihood as hot weather persists. These are unpredictable avalanches that can break wide, multiple feet deep, and be very destructive. All slopes that have experienced warming are suspect, but steep slopes that are easterly facing are most suspect as they have received the least amount of cooling from the wind.
    • Wet loose avalanches will become likely on very steep slopes that receive sunlight. Some shaded slopes could become suspect towards the end of the day as ambient temperatures warm the snow. Wet loose avalanches may start small but could entrain a lot of debris and be large enough to bury or injure a rider. These are most likely to be initiated around rocks and trees that take on more heat from the sun.

    Wet snow avalanches are most likely on west, south, and east facing terrain at mid and upper elevations because they have experienced the most heat and melting. Pinwheels and rollerballs are also signs that slopes are getting too warm and becoming unstable. Wet snow avalanches can be difficult to predict, so carefully monitor the snow and if you see signs discussed in the Bottom Line, take a step back and stick to lower angle slopes.

    (3/19/2026)

    Natural wet slab avalanche failing on an easterly slope at 9,800 feet.

    Photo: Matt Brown

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Large cornices have formed from periods of strong winds. Warm temperatures increase the chances of cornices failing naturally. Falling cornices are large triggers and can initiate avalanches on the slopes they land on. Avoid being on or downhill of cornices.

    (3/19/2026)

    Cornice fall near Blind Bull.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1.5–2

    While unlikely, there is still a chance of triggering a persistent slab avalanche that fails 2 to 3 feet deep on buried weak layers. There won’t be signs that a slope is unstable. Very steep, sheltered slopes above 8,000 feet that face north and northeast are most suspect. Evaluate terrain carefully and avoid exposing multiple people to slopes that have this problem.

    (3/8/2026)

    The last human triggered avalanche in Prater Canyon at 8300' on a north aspect. 

    Prater Canyon - North 8300’ 

     

Avalanche Discussion

Early summer conditions have come in March and the winter snowpack in the mountains is reeling from the change. The warm temperatures that our region is experiencing are causing surface snow to melt and work its way into the colder snowpack below. When we get proper freezing temperatures again, the snowpack will adjust to this, but currently, this free water in a winter snowpack is destabilizing it.

When water percolates through the snowpack, it pools on different layers such as crusts or buried weak layers, and at some point slopes can become overloaded by this and release, causing wet slab avalanches. Predicting when wet slab avalanches will release is trickier than dry slab avalanches since it is hard to know how much melt water movement there is in the snowpack across a mountain range. But past avalanche cycles have shown us that after multiple nights of minimal freezing of the snowpack, wet slab avalanches increase in likelihood, and that's what is going on right now. There have already been reports of wet slabs in some of the warmer parts of our forecast area.

Because of the uncertainty surrounding when and where wet slab avalanches will fail, keep it simple. Get in and out of the mountains before slopes heat up too much. If you are out later, avoid being on or underneath steep slopes where wet slab avalanches are possible.

Thanks for submitting your observations. Snap a few photos while you’re out and send them in; it’s a huge help! Thank you.

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