Avalanche forecast

Tetons

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 9 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Dangerous avalanche conditions exist. Skiers and riders could easily trigger very large, destructive persistent slabs in steep avalanche terrain. While the likelihood of triggering these slabs is slowly decreasing, the consequences remain high. Don’t let previous tracks fool you into thinking a slope is stable, and continue to make conservative terrain choices. Backcountry travelers could also trigger small pockets of wind slab that could easily step down and release the much larger persistent slab below.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Strong southwesterly to westerly ridgetop winds have transported recent snowfall and increased the load on persistent weak layers of faceted snow. These strong winds have also scoured windward slopes. This scenario continues to increase the spatial variability of dangerous, persistent slabs that could reach depths of four feet. These slabs are just waiting for a trigger, and any slope that has not slid should be viewed as suspect. Take note of obvious signs of instability, which include recent avalanche activity, whomphing and cracking, and avoid avalanche terrain where these indicators are present.

Avalanche Discussion

The weather will be cold and dry under a high pressure ridge. Thermal inversions will promote the development of morning valley fog. Temperatures will drop into the single digits on the summits and will drop below zero in the valleys. Winds are forecast to be from the west-northwest and increase to 15 to 25 miles per hour.The general avalanche hazard remains CONSIDERABLE. Conditions remain dangerous. Our snowpack is unstable due to its poor structure, persistent weak layers of faceted snow on top of a hard crust. Large slab avalanches are likely to be triggered by the weight of a single person in steep active avalanche paths that have not recently slid. The crowns of these avalanches will be 2 to 4 feet deep above an elevation of 8,000 feet and 1 to 2 feet deep between an elevation of 7,000 and 8,000 feet. Expert terrain analysis skills and conservative terrain choices are essential for safe travel in avalanche terrain.

Regions covered