Avalanche forecast

Tetons

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

The quick moving storm ending yesterday dropped one to one and a half feet of heavy snow at mid and upper elevations. Strong southwesterly winds accompanied the snow creating slabs to two feet in depth on lee slopes. Temperatures have dropped and avalanches may be more difficult to trigger but even small slides will carry serious consequences.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2

    Heavy storm snow drifted onto steep, lee slopes rests on smooth, wind-packed surfaces. The snow came in warm and with cooling should adhere to the old snow. However, at steep mid and upper elevations slides are still possible. Larger triggers such as the second or later person on a slope, more than one person at a time on a slope or snow machines could release dangerous avalanches. These slabs also have the potential to pull out deeper old snow.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2

    Beneath the new snow dense slabs to two feet in depth rest on a layer of buried surface hoar over a hard crust on upper elevation and some mid elevation northerly aspects. The new storm snow has increased the possibility for backcountry users to trigger dangerous slides that would involve both the old and new snow.

Avalanche Discussion

High pressure will keep things dry Tuesday. Morning lows will be in the mid teens with daytime highs in the upper twenties. Winds on the ridges will be westerly at 20 - 25 miles per hour.At upper elevations on steep, northerly aspects in the Tetons the avalanche hazard will be Moderate. Weaknesses within the snowpack will hold the possibility for people to trigger firm slabs to three feet in depth. Avalanches will be hard to predict with triggers possibly from heavier loads or someone finding the thin, weak area of a slab. Careful route finding and snowpack evaluation is advised for travel in these areas.In the Togwotee Pass/Continental Divide and Greys River/Southwest Trails areas the hazard is expected to be Low. Firm slabs to two feet in depth could be triggered by users on isolated, steep, northerly slopes at upper elevations.

Regions covered