Avalanche forecast

Tetons

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

Human triggered avalanches are possible at the middle and upper elevations today. Steep, rocky, wind affected, and shallow areas are the most likely zones to trigger slabs. You can use tools such as probes and shovels to determine whether or not buried weak layers exist on the slopes you plan to ski or ride. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Variable winds over the last 24 hours have created wind slabs at the upper elevations that are 1-2 feet deep. Slabs could be both soft and hard. Northerly and easterly winds are forecasted for today, causing abnormal loading patterns.

    Moniter the wind direction and pay attention to signs of instability such as cracking within wind drifted snow.

    (1/17/2023)

    Small wind slabs triggered in Chicken Scratch (NE aspect off of Mt. Glory in the Teton Zone). 

    Photo: L. Wolfe

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1.5–3

    Buried persistent weak layers exist within the snowpack. On windward slopes these layers are within 2-3 feet of the snow surface.  The November 27 crust/facet combo is reacting in the moderate to hard range in stability tests where the snowpack is less than 4 feet deep. 

    Use you shovel and probe to determine if buried weak layers exists. Pay attention to signs of instability such as audible collapsing of the snowpack.

    (1/16/2023)

    This avalanche was triggered on a west aspect off of Albright Peak around 10,000 feet.

    Photo: C. Martin

Avalanche Discussion

The Tetons are currently in an incremental loading pattern with small amounts of low density snow most days. You are most likely to trigger an avalanche where wind slabs lie on top of buried weak layers in steep, shallow, and rocky areas.

There was a human triggered avalanche on the west face of Albright Peak on January 16th that involved a buried persistent weak layer. Natural avalanches have been limited to new snow instabilities and wind slabs over the last week. 

Current snow surfaces are made up of low density stellars and near surface facets in many locations. Buried persistent weak layers from late November and early December are buried over 1.5 meters deep on leeward aspects. On wind exposed aspects these layers are much closer to the surface and are reacting in the moderate to hard range in stability tests. 

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