Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Avalanche danger will rise to Moderate by mid-day. Evaluate steep slopes at mid and upper elevations for signs of wind loaded snow and warming. As temperatures warm today, wind slabs may become more reactive and wet avalanche activity will become possible, especially on sunlit slopes. Carefully choose your aspect, elevation and timing to avoid this heating. Avalanches may be large enough to bury a person in isolated areas. Below 8,000’, avalanche danger is Low and avalanches are unlikely due to low, recent snowfall amounts.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Six to twelve inches of new snow that fell earlier in the week will warm today for the first time. Calm winds, sunshine, and above freezing temperatures may lead to rapid warming and a loss of cohesion in the snow. Moving loose, wet debris may entrain significant amounts of snow or trigger a slab. Rollerballs, pinwheels or surface snow wet enough to soak your glove are signs that a steep slope may produce a wet snow avalanche.

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Wind slabs one to two feet thick may become more reactive to human triggering as they warm today. Slopes beneath cliff bands, narrow, rock walled couloirs and rollovers beneath cornices should be evaluated carefully for signs of instability such as shooting cracks. Hollow sounding snow, cracking or pillow-like formations of snow are indicators that drifting snow formed slabs.

Avalanche Discussion

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Overnight temperatures will drop into the low teens under clear skies. Tomorrow, temperatures will rise into the mid-thirties at 10,000’ and near fifty in the valleys. Calm wind and clear skies will intensify the heating. By tomorrow morning, the one to two foot thick wind slabs remaining in terrain above 9,000’ will have had over 36 hours to heal and bond. Unfortunately, the strong sun and warm temperatures will rapidly change any stability gained since the snowfall and wind loading ended yesterday afternoon. Expect avalanche danger to rise to Moderate as human triggered and small natural avalanches become possible as slopes begin to heat up. Safer skiing and riding can be found until sun and warm temperatures begin to wet the surface of the snow. Carefully choose your aspect, elevation and timing to avoid this heating. Wet loose avalanches could entrain enough snow to cause harm and potentially trigger a larger slab in isolated areas.

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