Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 13 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

A Special Avalanche Bulletin is in affect for the area. Temperatures dropped overnight and have provided some strength to a snowpack that had natural and triggered avalanche activity yesterday. This activity occurred at low elevations where rain weakened the snowpack and at higher elevations where sustained strong winds and snowfall has created surface slabs. Yesterday a skier had a close call when he was caught and carried in a slide in an area south of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Yet another storm is to bring rapid loading today. The avalanche hazard will quickly rise from Moderate this morning to Considerable this afternoon as new snow and potentially rain at low elevations adds to the existing avalanche problems of wind slabs and deep persistent slabs.

Avalanche problems

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    3

    Buried layers of weak snow persist at all elevations. Slabs that lie upon these weaknesses could be triggered by backcountry riders and skiers today. These slabs could have depths to six feet and could be hard, soft, or potentially wet in areas affected by rain. These slabs will be most sensitive at low elevations where heavy snow and rain have weakened a snowpack underlain by faceted snow. Steep slopes, road cuts and roof slides could release naturally today. Yesterday these deep weaknesses were involved in natural wet slides in the Hoback Canyon as well as in a large avalanche that was reported to have initiated at high elevations in the South Fork of Phillips Canyon. The chance for riders and skiers to trigger these slabs will increase rapidly this afternoon as new snow and potentially some rain arrives with the next system.Caution is strongly advised as several feet of snow over the last two weeks have raised the chances to trigger very large and dangerous avalanches.

  • Wind Slabs

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

    The possibility exists to trigger resently formed wind slabs. Strong southwest to west winds have formed dense slabs on leeward slopes. Slab depths to two feet could be easily triggered and once triggered could step down to deeper weaknesses in the snowpack. These slabs have been most sensitive near and under cliff areas where graupel typically pools. These slabs will increase in size and sensitivity today.

Avalanche Discussion

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Periods of snow showers are possible overnight and through the morning before another strong system impacts the area Friday afternoon. Temperatures are to be even warmer tomorrow with mountain temps in the upper twenties during the afternoon and above freezing temperatures at lower elevations when the storm arrives. This is likely to result in rain in the valleys as well as low elevation terrain and snow at higher elevations.The general avalanche hazard could be Considerable or High tomorrow. Factors such as overnight temperatures and rain and snow amounts as well as the timing of the next system will affect this outcome. At the least, backcountry travelers could easily trigger slides at all elevations and natural activity will be possible. Slides could involve recently formed slabs in steep terrain above 8000 feet or at all elevations it could involve deeper weak layers in the snowpack resulting in full depth avalanches to the ground. These full depth avalanches will be most likely in areas where the snowpack is somewhat shallow and underlain by faceted snow. Remember that rain quickly weakens any snowpack and in areas where significant rain falls, natural activity will be likely.

Regions covered