Avalanche forecast

Tetons

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

New snow and gusty winds have created dangerous avalanche conditions. Triggering a wind slab 1-2 feet thick is likely on steep, wind loaded slopes. Triggering a large and destructive avalanche that fails on buried weak layers remains a concern given today’s additional loading. Careful snowpack evaluation and conservative decision making is advised.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2.5

    Weak layers exist 2-6 feet below the snow surface. While it is on the lower end of likelihood that you will trigger an avalanche failing on one of these layers, a large trigger such as an avalanche failing in the new snow, a cornice drop, or a snowmobile could tip the scales. An avalanche breaking on a buried weak layer would be very large and destructive. Giving these slopes time to settle is advisable especially while strong winds and snowfall continue to stress the snowpack.

    (1/1/2026)

    Large, hard slab avalanche failing near the ground. It was remotely triggered at JHMR by a snowcat pushing snow. This crown was 10' deep.

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Gusty winds have and will continue to form slabs on many aspects at mid and upper elevations. These slabs range from hard to soft and are 10 inches to over 2 feet thick. Soft slabs will be sensitive to the weight of a rider, while harder slabs will be less reactive but could break above you on steep slopes. Look for cracking in the snow around you and recently formed drifts on steep slopes, as both can indicate an unstable slope. Keep in mind that when winds are gusty and erratic, as they have been, they create less predictable wind slabs.

    (1/4/2026)

    Textbook example of cracking indicating a fresh wind slab. This suggests the slope below could be unstable if steep.

    Photo: Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

Within the buried weak snow, there are two areas of particular concern. The first involves facets sitting on top of a melt freeze crust that formed during a rain on snow event around Christmas and Boxing Day. This layer is buried 2-3 feet below the surface and has been observed up to 9,500 feet. In many locations, we have identified weakness at this interface, and it has the potential to produce avalanches. What has been missing is a cohesive slab that can effectively communicate with this weak layer. Recent wind loading and new snow may provide the final ingredient needed to tip the balance.

The second area of concern is weak snow near the ground that formed in November. This is not a concern everywhere, many areas have a generally healthy snowpack over 6 feet deep. But problemed areas that have or had a relatively shallow snowpack remain of concern. These areas have not had as much strengthening and could be impacted by a large trigger. Steep, rocky, outlier terrain is most suspect.

Regions covered