Avalanche forecast

Tetons

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Temperature inversions strengthened overnight, and the mountains are starting out around 10 degrees warmer than yesterday. Dangerous avalanche conditions exist at the mid and upper elevations. On a variety of aspects and elevations, backcountry travelers still have the potential of triggering large to very large persistent slab avalanches in steep avalanche terrain. While these slabs are becoming more difficult to trigger, the consequences remain the same, and involvement in one of these slides could easily be fatal. These slabs could become more sensitive to human triggers on slopes impacted by the sun as the day warms. Cautious route finding and conservative decision-making are the best tools to avoid this hazard.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Faceted weak layers can be found on most aspects and elevations, and they vary significantly across the landscape. This variability requires an extra margin of safety; now is not the time to let your guard down and become complacent. In the higher elevations, backcountry travelers could trigger persistent slab avalanches failing on these weak layers with depths ranging from two to four feet. Lower down, slabs are likely to range from one to two feet deep. Large triggers, such as snowmobiles, are more likely to initiate one of these deadly avalanches. Don’t let yourself be lulled into thinking a slope is safe if it has been previously ridden or skied.

Avalanche Discussion

Inversion conditions are to continue tomorrow. Cloud cover will vary between partly and mostly sunny. Highs in the twenties are expected at all elevations. West winds are to have 10 to 15 mph averages. The general avalanche hazard will remain Considerable above 7500 feet in the Teton and Southwest Trails areas and Moderate below that elevation. The rating in the Togwotee area will be Moderate above 8000 feet and Low at lower elevations. Avalanches involving persistent weak layers could still be triggered throughout western Wyoming. They could be largest in the higher elevations of the Teton and Southwest forecast areas where they could have depths to four feet. Continue a cautious approach to terrain selection as determining which slopes will fail is difficult and even a few tracks on a slope are insignificant as slabs may release only when a thin trigger point on a slope is hit.

Regions covered