Avalanche forecast

Snake River Range

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired last year. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Significant new snow  has fallen in the Snake River Range on slick crusts in most terrain and on faceted snow in shaded terrain. Skiers and riders venturing into steep terrain have the potential to trigger loose snow sloughs and small soft slabs. Slabs will be largest in higher terrain that has been wind loaded. Watch for signs of instability involving the new snow such as cracking, small natural sloughs, or just areas where it seems higher snow amounts lie upon hard surfaces.  The liklihood of triggering a slide today could increase if significant sunlight and warming occur. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    9 inches of snow fell at the Baird snow study plot over the last 24 hours. Wind directions backed from the northeast to the northwest during this period making all aspects suspect to some level of loading.  Watch for obvious wind loading, particularly along ridge crests and summits where soft slabs could have depths to 18 inches in steep terrain.  These slabs could be human triggered today as they lie upon hard crusts on slopes exposed to sunlight and on facets in shaded terrain. This new snow could also release as a slab in areas not as affected by wind loading or as loose snow sloughs in steep terrain.  Watch for slopes that are wind loaded or where localized snowfall was heaviest and beware of the signs of any avalanche activity no matter how small as small slides can have serious consequences in areas with terrain traps.

Avalanche Discussion

The Snake River Range was rated as Low avalanche danger yesterday with a mostly stable snowpack. The increase today is simply to indicate the new snow hazard, especially with uncertainty in snowfall amounts in localized drainages. Some areas may have recieved significantly more or less snowfall than fell at Baird so paying attention to new snow depths is very important to understand todays risk. It is expected that the new snow bonds fairly quickly to the recently buried interface. 

Regions covered