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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Out of date — this forecast expired 8 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Yesterday, a skier was caught, carried and fully buried on a west facing slope at an elevation of 9,600 feet in the Snake River Range. The skier was quickly recovered and did not sustain injuries. This avalanche was skier triggered, around 30 inches deep and failed on faceted snow. In steep avalanche terrain, similar persistent slabs remain possible at the mid and upper elevations. On sunlit aspects, abundant sunshine and warming temperatures might increase the likelihood of triggering these slides. Daytime warming could also produce shallow point slides involving the recent snow on solar aspects. Don’t let the weekend and blue skies impair your judgement. Evaluate the snowpack often, and don’t assume that one snowpit will give you a representative picture of the hazard. At the lower elevations, backcountry travelers might be able to trigger an isolated pocket of shallow slab in very steep terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Snow depths in the mountains range from four to six feet and decrease to one to three feet in the valleys. In areas with snow depths on the higher end of the spectrum, buried layers of near surface facets and surface hoar remain a concern in the top three feet of the snowpack. These weak layers also exist in shallower snowpacks along with large grained, basal facets. Above 7,500 feet, the potential remains for skiers and riders to trigger persistent slab avalanches ranging in depth from one to three feet. Below 7,500 feet, backcountry travelers might be able to trigger a small surface slab on isolated terrain features.

Avalanche Discussion

Expect mostly clear skies and inverted temperatures as high pressure resides over the region. Overnight lows in the mountains will be in the mid-teens before climbing into the mid to upper 20s during the day. Northeasterly to easterly ridgetop winds will range from 5 to 15 miles per hour.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be Moderate above 7,500 feet on Sunday. Weak layers of faceted snow in the form of buried near surface facets and surface hoar persist in the snowpack. Large grained, basal facets are also likely in areas with snow depths less than four feet. In steep terrain, the potential remains for skiers and riders to trigger slab avalanches failing on these weak layers to depths of one to three feet. Keep in mind that there is a significant amount of spatial variability associated with these weak layers both between and within forecast zones. Evaluate the snowpack often, and don’t assume that one snowpit will give you a representative picture of the avalanche hazard. Below 7,500 feet, backcountry travelers might be able to trigger an isolated pocket of shallow slab in very steep terrain.

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