Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

The avalanche danger today will rise as the daytime temperatures do. This morning we'll have Low danger, and as the snowpack heats up again it will transition to a Moderate hazard on slopes facing east, through south, and west. Temperatures overnight were warmer than the previous day, so be ready to shift plans if you begin breaking through the diurnal crusts. Minimize exposure when traveling on steep solar aspects, especially around rock outcroppings and below cornices. 

Last night was warm with a shallow refreeze, some mountain locations did not drop below freezing.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    The wet loose activity was still noticeable yesterday as the warm temperatures unconsolidated the snowpack. This typically occurs during peak heating and has been most pronounced on lower elevations, steep planar solar slopes, and around any rocky outcroppings. Extra caution is advised if traveling around the western slope of the Tetons that received higher snow totals from the last storm. In these areas, you'll find more snow available to slide if provoked by the sun and warm temperatures. If you find yourself sinking into wet snow move to colder aspects and avoid being under cornices that are beginning to warm and sag.  

    Large cornices loom along the ridgelines.

Avalanche Discussion

Today will be a transition day following the last few days of high pressure, as we will begin to feel the impacts of some colder air and increased chances of snow Monday night into Tuesday. Scattered mountain snow showers will develop in the afternoon, but accumulations will be limited and will not shift our avalanche hazard until Tuesday. With that in mind, temperatures today are still expected to climb into the 40s F in the mountains coupled with a shallow refreeze last night, so continue to limit time around steep solar aspects during peak heating. Current snow surfaces vary upon aspect and elevation. While traveling in the high peaks on Friday in Grand Teton National Park I was finding cold snow and sloughing in very steep terrain above 10,500' -  if you're traveling into these peaks today expect to find cold snow on the northerlies and the potential for wind slabs above our forecast zone in addition to the diurnal melt-freeze conditions on the solar aspects. As daytime heating quickly breaks down the melt-freeze conditions, expect wet loose activity to continue to rise - yesterday it was still easy to trigger these on steep sunlit planar slopes at all elevations. The battle between winter and spring rages on tonight, with spring taking a break while winter comes in for another hit.

Regions covered