Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 8 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Natural avalanches will become possible by mid-day in the Salt River Range. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully and choose terrain cautiously. Shooting cracks off the tips of your skis are one clear sign that you could trigger a slab one to two feet thick.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

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

    Around ten inches of new snow fell last night with another twelve inches expected to fall through the day in the Salt River Range. Temperatures are forecast to be in the high twenties during this period but snow density is forecast to tick up slightly, potentially creating an upside down scenario. A slick crust buried the day after Christmas will make a fast sliding surface for any avalanche. Cracks shooting forward from the tips of your skis are good indicators that you have an unstable slab. 

    Wind has been light in the past twenty-four hours but moderate westerly wind today may help build slabs, especially near ridge-tops. Looks for signs of wind transport, textured surfaces on lee slopes and drifting snow. 

    The Wyoming Range is missing most of this precipitation and will have less avalanche hazard today. Evaluate snow and weather carefully there.

    Expect  18" new snow by mid-day and two feet by dark.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1.5–3

    The weight of the new will make it more likely to trigger a persistent slab ranging from 2-6 feet thick. While these layers have become less of a concern over time here, new snow will add strain to slopes today.  The bond between recent snow and this crust will be tested by the weight of new snow falling today. Also below 8,500’ some rain may add strain and weaken the upper snowpack. This problem has been active mostly when a new load of snow stresses buried weak layers or some other very large trigger hits a slope. Continue to evaluate steep terrain carefully, feel for these layers with a probe and always practice safe travel habits.

    Avalanche that likely occured 12/27 near Sheep Pass. It appears that it was a wind slab that triggered a persistent slab mid slope.

    Photo: Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

Persistent slab concerns were added to mid elevation, northerly slopes today due to the new snow and rain there. Deeper weak layers like the December 10 rain crust and basal facets have been growing less reactive but it is hard to ignore the recent signs that they still  can react to a large load. They remain a bit of an outlier but the new load warrants attention especially since these avalanches have been very large.  Cornices have grown large already this season. One of those peeling off and hitting a slope could serve as a trigger for these deepely buried layers.

There are a lot of potential human triggers riding around during this holiday period. Now is a good time to keep your head on a swivel and pay close attention to people above you or below you. Don't group up at the bottom of a slope and remember that avalanches can run further than you think.  There's a fine line between traveling one at a time and staying close enough to help your partner but take the time to figure it out.

Observations such as this and this help us all gain a better understanding of the nature and extent of avalanche problems. Thanks to all who have submitted! You can submit your own through our website or even by texting the number at the bottom of every page of the website.

Regions covered