Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
No rating
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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

 A chance of triggering a large slab avalanche continues to exist in higher terrain. Avoid very steep terrain near cliffs or rocky areas and stick to low angle slopes to avoid the threat of an avalanche accident. Low elevations lack sufficient snow coverage for avalanche concerns. As new snow falls today, very small loose snow sluffing could become possible in steep terrain. 

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    Weak snow formed during a dry period in November is well preserved within the snowpack. The triggering of slabs that lie above this layer has become less likely and limited to steep terrain above 8500 feet that has a north component in aspect. Slab failure is hard to predict as a slope can be tracked several times before a particularly thin, weak spot is impacted. If triggered, these slabs will be hard with depths of 1 to 3 feet.  Evaluating the snowpack layering to the ground on a specific slope can provide insight to this extent of this weakness. 

    Significant variability in the snowpack exists throughout the zone between the Wyoming, Salt, and Snake River Ranges. Submit an observation to help us tune into your local area and improve our forecast ability.

    (12/21/2023)

    Here is a good example of the terrain where triggering a persistent slab is most likely. These avanches occured during out last storm cycle. 

    Photo: Alex Drinkard

Avalanche Discussion

Although the chance of triggering an avalanche involving the Persistent Weak Layer (PWL) has decreased and is thought to only be currently possible on higher northwest to northeast terrain, the danger rating remains Moderate because in the unlikely event that a slab is triggered it has the potential to be large.  Snowpack observations continue to come in that indicate the weak layer is easily identifiable in upper elevations on many aspects. Snowpit tests show varying results, but propagation propensity can still be found.  As the rating trends to low hazard, the November drought layer will continue to be watched, particularly during significant loading events. Also, of concern when real storms return to the area are the current snow surfaces that include crusts and widespread faceted snow and surface hoar that is being lightly covered today by light snow. 

In addition snow coverage remains thin, so be aware of obstacles lurking just beneath the snow surface. Yesterday an observation came in regarding rocks and obstacles in the Willow creek drainage. 

Regions covered