Avalanche forecast

Tetons

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Avoid steep slopes where you find evidence of windblown snow. Fresh drifts from the recent storm sit on slick crusts and weaker snow. Many will be small but could be easily triggered—these will be most common at upper elevations. Slides could break larger than you expect and produce a more dangerous avalanche. If the sun decides to make an early appearance, expect snow surface conditions to change rapidly and new snow to move easily.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Yesterday's storm was an overproducer in this zone. The past 72 hours have delivered over a foot of snowfall to the Tetons' upper elevations, favoring the northern end of the range. This snow will move easily on the old snow surface, and drifts will likely be 1-2 feet deep. Winds have shifted westerly, so expect to encounter this problem along ridgelines and adjacent to cross-loaded terrain features. Look for signs of the wind working the snow and avoid these areas. Pillows and dunes of snow are a great indicator of this. If you are traveling through the terrain here and find that the snow depth is increasing or the new snow is becoming denser, you've likely found a wind slab. Yesterday, a skier reported triggering a large avalanche in the park's northern portion that broke deeper than he anticipated and in older snow, around two feet deep. I expect areas like this to be isolated, but it is an important observation to put on your radar. 

    ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION

    This problem has been bumped to the middle elevation band, as enough snow has been delivered to the upper elevations to craft an avalanche capable of traveling into the middle elevations, particularly in the right terrain features.

    (3/24/2024)

    Small wind slab avalanche near the summit of Taylor.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

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

    Hard slabs 3-5 feet thick overlay weak snow that formed earlier in the season. Shallow, rocky, and unsupported terrain on the north half of the compass is where this problem has been most active. It is currently unlikely that a human would trigger one of these slabs. Larger triggers, like cornice fall or surface snow avalanches (i.e., wind slabs or wet avalanches), can impact weak layers buried deeply in the snowpack and initiate a much larger avalanche. Furthermore, an extreme loading event or a prolonged period above freezing has the potential to impact these layers. 

    (3/5/2024)

    A very large persistent slab avalanche failed during the early March storm cycle. This terrain characterizes where this problem is most active: very steep, unsupported slopes near cliffs.

    Photo: Dan Hayes

Avalanche Discussion

Yesterday's hazard rating was a "softer" Moderate, while today's will be a solid Moderate. Conditions are on the upper end of the danger rating in areas with the most snowfall over the past three days, like the park's northern portion. Today will be more dangerous than yesterday in isolated terrain features that have collected more snowfall, either because the wind favors them or because of their general location in the range based on storm direction. Before heading out, consider the chosen terrain and whether the avalanche problem exists there. 

Regions covered