Avalanche forecast

Snake River Range

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

It is possible to trigger an avalanche 1-2 feet deep in steep northerly terrain above 8,000 feet, that fails on weak snow formed in January. Signs of instability may not be evident, but collapsing, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches in the area are clear signs that this weak layer is present. Winds are forecasted to increase throughout the day and will form fresh slabs on leeward slopes. Look for active wind loading and slabby-feeling snow, these indicate that a slab is forming and could be triggered on a steep slope.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Wind blowing from the southwest is forecasted to increase into the moderate range throughout the day. With plenty of soft surface snow available for wind transport, expect slabs to develop on leeward slopes. Wind slabs could be up to a foot thick, sensitive to the weight of a rider, and run faster than expected since they may fail on soft, cohesionless snow. Steep leeward slopes at upper elevations are most suspect. Watch for active wind loading and surface snow that feels upside down or slabby.

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Weak faceted snow and buried surface hoar that formed in January has and will continue to produce avalanches. These are soft slabs that range in depth from 1-2 feet and can be large enough to bury a person. Slides could break in surprising places that people often consider stable, such as sheltered areas below tree line. Take a look at the many recent avalanches we have seen to get an idea of these characteristics. Although these slides are failing just below the recent storm snow, they are persistent slab avalanches meaning they could break above you and much wider than expected, so carefully evaluate terrain and use caution around these steep slopes.

    (2/12/2026) 

    Persistent Slab avalanche from Mosquito Creek. 

    Note the wide propagation.

Avalanche Discussion

Whenever snow is on the ground and there is a period of mostly cool, calm, high pressure weather, we can expect weak snow surfaces to form. Sometimes this is more of an issue than others, depending on how weak the snow became and how well it was preserved.

This past January, the mountains of western Wyoming developed weak snow that was preserved well, by fresh snow, in some places and not as much in others. Two big contributors to where it was preserved were wind and warmth. The wind events in January disturbed and frankly ruined many snow surfaces, which destroyed or made it difficult for some surfaces to grow quite as weak. Our period of warmth also decreased the distribution of weak snow. But areas that didn’t feel the effect of these natural forces did grow very weak.

Sometimes when weather comes in, it destroys and disrupts the weak snow so much that it is not an issue, that was not the case with our recent storm. In some locations, these snow surfaces were preserved. Now we have a weak layer of facets buried under the snow with enough slab on it to produce avalanches. These slides have characteristics of a persistent slab, meaning they could act in unpredictable ways and places due to the variability of where the weak layer remained intact. Terrain that is 8,000-9,500 feet in elevation and is west though north through east facing is most suspect. Until this layer becomes unreactive, treat slopes with this persistent slab problem with caution.

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