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

Recent storm snow sits primarily on faceted snow, surface hoar, and, in some areas, sun-crusts. Slab avalanches involving these weak layers can be human triggered today on a variety of aspects above 7500. Once triggered these slides will likely involve older weak layers of snow. As slabs become less sensitive to triggering, they also become harder to predict and conservative decision making remains essential. Snowpack evaluation can help to determine unstable areas. There have been many recent near misses in western Wyoming. In the Tetons, where more snow fell in the last storm, at least 7 people were caught in slides and many remotely triggered slides were reported including one large slide that was triggered yesterday by a snowmobile. Remotely triggered and natural activity was also reported in the Snake River Range over the weekend.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Poor snowpack structure is widespread in the Southwest Trails forecast area. Basal facets, near-surface facets, surface hoar, and crusts all persist in the snowpack. On a variety of aspects above 7,500 feet, skiers and riders still have the potential to trigger persistent slab avalanches with depths between 1 and 4 feet. Large triggers, such as snowmobiles, are more likely to initiate one of these slabs.

Avalanche Discussion

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Clouds will increase during the day tomorrow, first as high clouds, then by lower and thicker clouds that will bring snow to the area Tuesday night. Southwest winds will pick up to averages near twenty miles per hour on summits. This wind will slowly drive out the inversion and high temperatures in the mid-twenties are expected at the higher elevations while valleys reach into the thirties. In the Tetons, the recently formed persistent slab problem remains, although the sensitivity of those slabs continues to decrease. The danger rating will be Considerable above 9000 feet where slabs are larger with depths to as much as four feet. At the mid and low elevations, human triggered slabs will also be possible tomorrow however maximum slab depths are more likely to be three and two feet, respectively. In the Togwotee Pass and Southwest Trails areas, where the recent storm brought less accumulation, persistent slabs could be human triggered above 7500 feet. These slabs could have depths to three feet at Togwotee Pass and depths to four feet in the Southwest Trails area. The rating for those locations and elevations will be Moderate. Below 7500 avalanche hazard in those areas is limited to very isolated areas and the danger rating will be Low.

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