Avalanche forecast

Tetons

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 13 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

At the mid and high elevations dangerous slabs lie in the backcountry. As these slabs have gained some strength the rating has been lowered from Considerable to Moderate. This is a critical time for cautious decision making as this minor change in strength results in conditions when avalanche release is even harder to predict. Slabs can still fail to weight of one skier or rider even after a slope has been tracked several times. This failure will occur when a particularly thin and weak part of the slab is affected. If triggered these surface slabs could have depths to four feet and could involve snow to the base of the snowpack on high north facing slopes to depths of five feet. Serious injury or death could result if captured in a slide at this time.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Dense to hard surface slabs up to four feet in depth lie upon slick snow surfaces and faceted snow. These slabs will be most sensitive to larger loads such as snow machines but could still release to the weight of one skier when a weak spot is impacted. These slabs are most likely to be found in exposed avalanche terrain where wind loading occurred during the storm at the beginning of the week. Being caught in such a slide is likely to cause serious injury or death.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    3

    Weak snow persists at the base of the snowpack on northerly aspects above an elevation of 9,000 feet. In this terrain very dangerous hard slabs could be triggered following the release of a wind slab avalanche or possibly by backcountry travelers. These very dangerous slabs will have total slab depths to five feet.

Avalanche Discussion

A weak upper level low with limited moisture could bring four to six inches of new snow to the higher elevations overnight. On Sunday skies will be slowly clearing with diminishing light snowfall. Temperatures will be in the single digits below zero in the mountains and rise into the single digits above zero in the valleys. Winds will be northwesterly at 5 to 15 miles per hour.The potential for humans to trigger dangerous slab avalanches two to five feet in depth exist at the mid and upper elevations. These slabs are most likely to be found in exposed avalanche terrain where wind loading occurring during the recent storm. These slabs could be triggered by the weight of a single person and are likely to be more sensitive to larger triggers, like snowmoblies. If triggered on a northerly aspect above an elevation of 9,000 feet these slabs could step down to the ground. Being caught in one of these slides is likely to cause serious injury or death. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE at the mid and upper elevations and LOW at the lower elevations.

Regions covered