Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

Conditions are dangerous. Large destructive slab avalanches that are likely to be un-survivable are possible on a variety of aspects and elevations. Last night’s winds gusted to 75 miles per hour on the summits and from 40 to 65 miles per hour at the mid elevations. These winds are likely to have caused significantly more extensive slab development than was observed yesterday. This means skiers and riders may trigger larger slab avalanches today and get further out onto these slabs before they fail. This may be the perfect recipe for a tragic avalanche accident. A very large and destructive avalanche ran full path yesterday in the Squaw Creek drainage. Fifth teen to 20 trees were observed in the debris of that avalanche. Similar slides could release naturally today and run into lower elevation run out zones. Excellent route-finding skills and conservative terrain choices will be essential for safe travel in avalanche terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Wind slab avalanches formed by west to northwest winds are likely to be triggered by skiers and riders today on steep avalanche prone slopes. At the mid and upper elevations these slabs could be up to 3 feet deep, may run long distances and may be un-survivable. At the lower elevations (below an elevation of 7,500 feet), pockets of wind slab up to two feet in depth could human triggered on steep wind-loaded terrain features.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    3

    Deeper persistent slab avalanches could also be triggered today by the weight of a person or the release of a wind slab avalanche that steps down to a buried weak layer of faceted snow. These very dangerous avalanches could occur on a variety of aspects and elevations. They are likely to be 3 to 6 feet deep at the mid and upper elevations and up to three feet deep at the lower elevations (below an elevation of 7,500 feet).

Avalanche Discussion

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )A lull is the snowfall is expected overnight. Lingering snow showers are likely. Another round of moderate to heavy snowfall is forecast to begin on Saturday afternoon and continue into Sunday. This next system may bring 8 to 12 inches of new snow to a wide area of our forecast region. Summit winds are currently from the west at 25 to 35 miles per hour with gusts into the 50’s and are forecast to be 15 to 30 with gusts in the 40’s and increase tomorrow evening. Temperatures will be in the upper single digits and teens.Conditions will remain dangerous. Lots of new snow, buried persistent layers, strong ridge crest winds and the occurrence of large avalanche events tell us that. Currently the extend and size of today’s avalanche activity is not known. Large destructive avalanches that release naturally and run full path are a possibility tomorrow. Human triggered avalanches are likely and could be quite large. Avalanches that only involve the new snow could be several feet deep. Avalanches that dig down to deeper layers could be up to six feet deep. Excellent route-finding skills and conservative terrain choices will be essential for safe travel in avalanche terrain. The general avalanche hazard rating is expected to be at least considerable and could be higher.

Regions covered