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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Avalanche conditions remain dangerous. On Saturday, a snowmobiler died in an avalanche in Southeast Idaho on Sherman Peak, southeast of Soda Springs. This tragic event makes a total of 8 U.S. fatalities since February 14th. Backcountry travelers could easily trigger small to large wind slabs on steep, wind loaded slopes. While these slides could kill you, involvement in a persistent deep slab avalanche almost certainly will. Skiers and riders have the potential to trigger these large to very large slabs on a variety of aspects and elevations. They could also release naturally. If you want to play it safe, stay off of and out from underneath slopes greater than 30 degrees. Otherwise, very cautious route finding and expert snowpack evaluations skills will be a requirement for safe travel in avalanche terrain. Strong winds will likely keep snow surfaces cool. However, if extended periods of sunshine do occur and snow surfaces start to become damp, transition to shaded terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

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

    Since early Friday morning, up to 1.25 inches of snow water equivalent has been added to persistent weak layers deeply buried in the snowpack, and some slopes have reached their tipping point. In Grand Teton National Park on Saturday, a highly destructive avalanche released naturally on a southeast facing aspect around 10,400 feet. This avalanche ran full track, snapped mature trees and had an estimated crown depth between 6 and 8 feet. Similar slides are possible in the Southwest Trails forecast zone, and many slopes are just waiting for a trigger. These persistent deep slabs are likely to range in depth from 4 to 8 feet above 7,500 feet and 2 to 4 feet deep below 7,500 feet. These deadly slabs could also step down from the release of a wind slab or occur naturally.

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Northwesterly ridgetop winds picked up on Sunday with hourly averages between 20 and 30 miles per hour. While new snow accumulations were light in the past 24 hours, winds easily transported the abundant available snow onto leeward slopes, and wind slabs stiffened and gained volume. Skiers and riders are likely to trigger these slabs with depths ranging from 1 to 3 feet in steep, wind loaded terrain above 7,500 feet. Natural activity will also be possible.

Avalanche Discussion

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Northerly flow aloft will back to the northwest, and the jet stream will drop down from the north and be overhead on Monday. Skies will be mostly cloudy to overcast, and light snowfall will be possible tonight and throughout the day tomorrow. Mountain temperatures won’t drop much overnight before climbing into the low 20s in the afternoon. Northwesterly ridgetop winds will back to the west at 20 to 30 miles per hour.Dangerous avalanche conditions will continue, and the general avalanche hazard is expected to remain Considerable on Monday. Strong winds will continue to stiffen and increase the depth of wind slabs, and backcountry travelers could easily trigger these small to large slabs in steep, wind loaded terrain. While these wind slabs could easily kill you, persistent deep slab avalanches almost certainly will. On a variety of aspects and elevations, skiers and riders have the potential to trigger these large to very large slabs failing on persistent weak layers deeply buried in the snowpack. They could also step down from the release of a wind slab or occur naturally. If you want to play it safe, stay off of and out from underneath slopes greater than 30 degrees. Otherwise, very cautious route finding and expert snowpack evaluations skills will be a requirement for safe travel in avalanche terrain.

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