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
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

New snow with increasing westerly winds this afternoon sustaining 20 mph will form fresh slabs and stress weak layers buried 2-3 feet deep. 24 hours snowfall varied drastically, with up to16 inches of new snow in the southern portion of the zone creating dangerous avalanche conditions. Avoid steep, wind loaded slopes where triggering an avalanche is likely while carefully evaluating the snowpack and your terrain choice.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Varied snowfall amounts last night up to 16 inches will continually form fresh wind slabs as forecasted wind speed increases to a sustained 20 mph with gusts above 30 mph by this afternoon. These slabs will be 1-2 feet deep, with even larger slabs possible in exposed upper elevations. Terrain where you will most likely encounter wind slabs will be on leeward and cross loaded slopes on the north and east aspects in the middle and upper elevations. Avoid commonly wind loaded areas such as along ridgelines and near cliff features. Wind slabs in the upper elevations can be tricky to identify as terrain driven wind can load a variety of aspects. Look for signs of wind loading such as rippled textures, drifts and cracking. 

    Storm slabs will be reactive in areas with high amounts of new snow across all aspects in the middle and upper elevations on steep slopes over 35°.

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    The March 20th interface is now buried 2-3 feet deep above a soft slab that has experienced significant temperature fluctuations during the last few days. This layer is composed of facets/crusts on solar aspects and small preserved facets on northerly aspects protected by the sun. The sensitivity of this layer is hard to gauge due to the varying slab depths and characteristics of the layer across different aspects. Loading of new snow last night and wind transport will stress this layer increasing reactivity, particularly in wind loaded terrain. Remotely triggering will be possible from gentler slopes above, below, or adjacent to steep slopes. Long story short: persistent slab avalanches are difficult to predict, so conservative decision making will be required today to avoid steep slopes. 

    In areas with a weaker snowpack, such as the Wyoming Range, deeper weak layers still remain a concern. Triggering a wind slab or persistent slab on the March 20th interface could step down to these layers resulting in a larger avalanche.

    (3/28/2023)

    The third rider near or on slope triggered 1' thick soft slab from the diagonal track on the right. The slab slid on a slick crust with small facets on it that was buried March 20.

    Photo: Frank Carus

Avalanche Discussion

Winter Continues...

Another week, and another discussion on how this winter just keeps on rolling. Good thing we love powder around these parts. There’s a mixed bag of conditions out there today, as snowfall varied drastically across the forecast zones. The big takeaway is that regardless of where you’re recreating, areas with higher amounts of new snow will see higher avalanche danger. This trend will continue into next week. New snow instability and stress added to the persistent slab will require careful terrain management and restraint to push into consequential terrain. These persistent slab avalanches are difficult to predict, especially with the spatial variability altering the likelihood and distribution across aspects and elevations. THIS IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL SPRING. I’ve said it over and over, but don’t let complacency cloud our judgment.

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