Avalanche forecast

Tetons

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Mountain temperatures are close to 10 degrees warmer than yesterday morning. At the mid and upper elevations, skiers and riders entering avalanche terrain could trigger recently developed wind slabs with greatly varying depths. As the day progresses, daytime warming, abundant sunshine and the absence of strong winds will all combine to increase the likelihood of triggering these slides, particularly on sunlit aspects. Afternoon warmth will also bring back the chance for wet slides, and cornice failures will become more likely as well. Don’t let clear skies and access to terrain that has been unavailable cloud your judgement. Monitor the extent to which the surface of the snowpack is warming, and seek out shaded terrain when snow surfaces become damp or crusts begin to break down.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    The Tetons received around 10 inches of snow water equivalent during the last storm cycle. Very strong southwesterly to westerly ridgetop winds accompanied this snowfall, and dense wind slabs formed at the mid and upper elevations. These slabs could fail on density breaks or graupel layers within the recent snowfall. Faceted snow from January can also be found in some areas. This scenario results in slab depths ranging anywhere from six inches to four or five feet. Daytime warming will increase the likelihood of triggering these slides, and natural activity could become possible in the afternoon.

  • Wet Slabs

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

    Cold temperatures overnight have removed the threat of wet slides this morning. Once surface crusts break down, the chance to trigger wet slabs and wet loose sluffs could return at the mid and lower elevations.

Avalanche Discussion

Similar conditions are expected for Tuesday. Skies will be clear, and temperature inversions will build overnight. Valley lows will be in the single digits, and the mountains will drop into the mid teens. During the day, highs at the upper elevations will be near 30, and the valleys will rebound to near freezing. Northerly to northeasterly ridgetop winds will range from 5 to 15 miles per hour.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be Considerable on Tuesday. Skiers and riders venturing onto steep avalanche-prone slopes could trigger wind slabs on a variety of aspects above 7,500 feet. These slabs could fail on density breaks within the recent snowfall or down to graupel layers that fell during the previous storm cycle. This scenario results in slab depths ranging anywhere from six inches to four or five feet. As the day warms, these slides will become more susceptible to failure, especially on sunlit aspects. Afternoon warmth will also bring back the chance for wet loose sluffs, and cornice failures will become more likely as well. In the Togwotee Pass area, the chance lingers to trigger full depth avalanches on northerly aspects above 9,000 feet.

Regions covered