Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

Dangerous avalanche conditions continue today throughout the region. Human triggered avalanches are very likely and new slabs up to 3 feet in depth have been formed by the recent winter storm. Travel in or below avalanche terrain is not recommended today.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Avalanche conditions are most dangerous where the wind has loaded slopes with snow from the recent storm. Wind slabs are expected to be reactive at all elevations. Natural avalanches continue to be likely in upper-elevations. 

    The hazard at mid elevations has dropped to Considerable although human triggered avalanches continue to be likely. Use extreme caution if traveling in the backcountry, it will be very easy for a single skier or rider to trigger one of these slides. Monitor conditions as you travel and note any slopes that are getting actively loaded by wind throughout the day. While the storm has tapered, today’s weather can continue to move snow and build slabs.

    Lower elevations may also have dangerous wind slabs. All steep slopes should be avoided today.

    This avalanche was observed yesterday on a loaded slope in the Togwotee area. Similar avalanches are expected today in the Grey's River area. 

    Photo: Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    The weak layers that are buried in the snowpack have been stress loaded by the recent storm. Wind slabs may step down and trigger these large, destructive avalanches. We can’t know exactly how these buried weak layers will react to the heavy loading. Use extreme caution, especially in areas like the Wyoming Range where those layers exist closer to the surface. Even layers that have not had any recent avalanche activity are suspect today.

    This picture from the Tetons shows a persistent slab avalanche that failed during a February storm cycle. Similar avalanches are possible today on buried weak layers that are stressed by recent loading.

Avalanche Discussion

The winter storm that just moved through added 15-21 inches of snow to this region. Highest snow totals were in the mid and northern regions of this zone. We have early reports of wind slab avalanches that failed during this storm, it is still unclear how the persistent weak layers in the snowpack are reacting. Yesterday’s poor visibility and difficult travel limited the amount of observations that were possible. Use extreme caution, monitor for signs of instability, and avoid travel in or under avalanche terrain. 

If winds are actively transporting snow today, hazardous slabs may continue to build on the surface and become more reactive. While heavy snowfall is not in today’s forecast, dangerous avalanche conditions exist and continued loading is possible.

Regions covered