Avalanche forecast

Tetons

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Avalanche danger will rise to Moderate by mid-day. Evaluate steep slopes at mid and upper elevations for signs of wind loaded snow and warming. As temperatures warm today, wind slabs may become more reactive and wet avalanche activity will become possible, especially on sunlit slopes. Carefully choose your aspect, elevation and timing to avoid this heating. Avalanches may be large enough to bury a person in isolated areas. Below 7,500’, avalanche danger is Low and avalanches are unlikely due to low, recent snowfall amounts.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Six to twelve inches of new snow that fell earlier in the week will warm for the first time today. Calm winds, sunshine, and above freezing temperatures may lead to rapid warming and a loss of cohesion in the snow. Moving loose, wet debris may entrain significant amounts of snow or trigger a slab. Rollerballs, pinwheels or surface snow wet enough to soak your glove are signs that a steep slope may produce a wet snow avalanche.

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Wind slabs one to two feet thick may become more reactive to human triggering as they warm today. Slopes beneath cliff bands, narrow, rock walled couloirs and rollovers beneath cornices should be evaluated carefully for signs of instability such as shooting cracks. Hollow sounding snow, cracking or pillow-like formations of snow are indicators that drifting snow formed slabs.

Avalanche Discussion

Overnight, temperatures in the mountains will dip into the mid to high twenties. Tomorrow will start mostly clear but will become partly cloudy during the day. Temperatures will rise rapidly with forty degrees possible near 10,000 feet in the afternoon. Tomorrow winds will veer to the southwest at 5-15 mph around mid-day. Tonight, temperatures will freeze the wet snow, but stability will decrease as surface snow becomes wet with rising temperatures. Tomorrow the avalanche danger will rise to Moderate by mid-day. Human triggered, wet snow avalanches will become possible on southerly aspects at all elevations. These slides will also be possible below 9,000 feet on all aspects. Below 7,500 feet, the avalanche danger is Low, as avalanches are unlikely due to low, recent snowfall amounts. Timing will be key tomorrow, start early and plan to exit steep terrain before the wet snow becomes gloppy.Above 9,000 feet, wind slabs one to two feet thick exist in steep terrain. Wind direction and speed varied during the last storm, so snow may be loaded further down a slope or on cross loaded terrain features. Carefully assess loaded terrain features and watch for signs of instability like shooting cracks.

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