Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago.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

Highlights

12-24 inches of recent snow combined with increasing W/SW wind last night and today will form sensitive slabs in upper elevations. These wind loaded areas coincide with where buried weak layers have been most reactive over the last week (NE aspects). Due to the unpredictable nature of these buried weak in both the middle and upper elevations, conservative terrain choice is warranted to avoid steep slopes.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2.5

    Numerous avalanches have been reported over the last week indicating that triggering a large avalanche is possible today. Added weight of new snow recently with increased wind last night and today will further stress these buried weak layers, especially on wind loaded slopes. Slab depths above these weak layers are around 2 feet deep, and up to 3 feet deep in areas with higher amounts of recent snow. You will most likely find this problem on slopes facing NE-N-NW above ~8,500’. Yesterday an avalanche was triggered remotely in the northern end of the Snake River Range. Triggering a persistent slab is still possible from gentle terrain above, below, or to the side of steep slopes.

    (12/9/2023) 

    Remotely triggered avalanche from below the slope in the Snake River Range. NE 8500' 18" crown thickness

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2.5

    The zone has received varied snowfall amounts of 12-24 inches since Friday. Shifting wind direction has formed previously wind loaded pockets. Increased W/SW wind 25-30 mph with gusts to 70 mph last night continuing into today will form slabs 1-2 feet deep. These slabs will be found in upper elevations on leeward terrain (N-NE-E-SE). Reactivity will be highest in alpine terrain as well as directly off ridgelines and shoulders. Look for obvious signs of instability such as large drifts, pillow, and cracking/collapsing. 

    (12/9/2023)

    Good example of terrain where you'll find a wind slab. Natural D2 soft slab avalanche 9400' NE aspect

    Photo: Alex Drinkard

Avalanche Discussion

Persistent Slab Trends

We’ve experienced a series of human triggered avalanches over the last week that indicates buried weak layers are reactive. Although this trend is decreasing, the possibility still exists. The snowpack in the Snake River Range appears to have a more alarming snowpack, especially near the Tetons where human triggered avalanche occurrences on persistent weak layers have been more frequent. Some areas of the zone such as the Salt River Range contain a more stable snowpack, as seen in our observation of Prater Mountain. Due to the large spatial variability of the snowpack, conservative decision making is required to assume all slopes are reactive until proven innocent. The best way to determine the reactivity of these buried weak layers is to dig down, identify where these buried weak sugary facets exist, and perform stability tests.

Regions covered