Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Out of date — this forecast expired 7 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Seven days of consistent snowfall and strong winds have created dangerous avalanche conditions. In steep wind loaded terrain, soft slabs could be triggered on all elevations and on many aspects. At the mid and high elevations, the chance to trigger deep persistent slabs also continues. Exercise cautious route finding by identifying wind loaded terrain and by evaluating the snowpack, particularly in areas where the weak basal snow exists.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Strong west to southwest winds continue to drift snow onto leeward aspects. These slabs could fail with varying depths up to three feet as they may release upon density changes within the recent snow or back to the interface layer covered on January 1st. These slabs can be found throughout steep terrain at the higher elevations and on specific terrain features at the low elevations with depths to eighteen inches.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

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

    Strong winds and recent new snow continue to increase the load on weak layers of faceted snow that persist near the base of the snowpack. Dangerous hard slab avalanches up to four feet in depth could be triggered by a person on this problem layer. These deep slab avalanches are more likely to fail on northwesterly through northeasterly aspects and could step down from the release of a wind slab. Being caught in one of these slides is likely to have severe consequences.

Avalanche Discussion

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Northwest flow will continue to bring snow overnight and into Tuesday morning. Snowfall is to diminish on Tuesday as temporary ridging builds. Six or more inches could fall in the Tetons overnight with one to three more during the day. In the valleys, one to three inches is expected. Although less snow is predicted in the southern zone, localized areas could see similar amounts. Winds are to be strongest overnight, however averages are still to remain above twenty miles per hour throughout the day. Wind directions could vary from southerly to westerly. Temperatures at higher elevations are to range from the teens to the lows twenties.The general avalanche hazard will be Considerable in all forecast areas tomorrow. Strong winds and new snow will further load leeward slopes where avalanches could be human triggered with depths of six inches to three feet. The increased load will also add stresses to the deep persistent slab problem. Failure involving this layer is most likely to occur if a slope is impacted by a moving wind slab. If triggered, such an avalanche would be large and could carry dire consequences.

Regions covered