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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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

While skiers and riders might be able to trigger small pockets of surface slab, the primary concern remains large to very large persistent slab avalanches. Backcountry travelers could trigger these dangerous slabs on a variety of aspects above 7,500 feet. Careful evaluation of the terrain and snowpack continues to be warranted. Below 7,500 feet, any avalanche activity is expected to be limited to isolated terrain features.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Poor snowpack structure is widespread. Basal facets that developed early in the season are still problematic. Buried surface hoar and near surface facets, along with faceted snow surrounding crusts, exist higher up in the snowpack. On a variety of aspects above 7,500 feet, skiers and riders continue to have the potential of triggering persistent slab avalanches failing on these weak layers, and slab depths are likely to range from two to five feet. Large triggers, such as snowmobiles, are more likely to initiate one of these slabs. Although weak, basal facets are widespread below 7,500 feet, numerous warming and cooling cycles have created mostly stable conditions.

Avalanche Discussion

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Expect mostly clear skies overnight before low level clouds once again develop. As the day progresses, thin, high clouds could move into the region in the afternoon. Temperature inversions will develop during the nighttime hours with mountain lows in the positive single digits and valley lows in the negative single digits. As the day progresses, temperatures at all elevations will climb into the mid to upper teens. Ridgetop winds will be light and variable.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be Moderate in the mountains on Monday. While skiers and riders might be able to trigger an isolated pocket of soft surface slab from the last storm cycle, the primary concern will continue to be large to very large persistent slab avalanches. In the Tetons, these slabs will be difficult to trigger, and would likely involve either faceted layers that formed on the surface of the snowpack or faceted snow surrounding crusts. Togwotee Pass has the worst structure of the three forecast zones, but the overlying slabs are also the smallest. There, failures could occur on faceted snow throughout the snowpack. The Southwest Trails forecast zone has the highest chance for human triggered persistent slab avalanches; the snowpack has poor structure similar to Togwotee Pass, and the overlying slabs are deeper.

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