Avalanche forecast

Tetons

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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

Highlights

Dangerous avalanche conditions exist. New snow and wind have formed slabs 1-4 feet deep that will be easily triggered by riders in steep, wind loaded terrain. Expect the likelihood of triggering an avalanche to increase throughout the day as additional snowfall accumulates. Natural avalanches will be possible with the rapid loading that is expected to take place today. Carefully monitoring the changing conditions and sticking to low angle terrain will be critical in order to avoid involvement in an avalanche.

The NWS has issued a Winter Storm Warning that will remain in effect until 5 am Tuesday.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2.5

    The Tetons have received 18-24” of new snow in the past 48 hours. Moderate to strong winds out of the southwest and west have redistributed this snow and formed slabs 1-4 feet deep in steep, wind loaded terrain that will be sensitive to the weight of a person this morning. Up to a foot of new snow and windy conditions are expected today and will increase the size and sensitivity of these slabs. Triggering avalanches big enough to bury a person will be likely in wind loaded terrain steeper than about 30° by day's end. While avalanches are most likely on wind loaded slopes, don’t rule out very steep sheltered terrain if snow totals today hit the upper end of the forecasted amounts (~12”).

    Be on the lookout for signs of wind loading including blowing snow and fresh drifts of denser snow. Cracking, collapsing, and recent avalanches are signs that the new snow is unstable. Move to low angle terrain if you observe these signs. Given the potential for natural avalanches, it is important to avoid traveling under very steep, wind loaded slopes.

    12” crown on Mount Oliver. This occurred yesterday (2/16).

    Photo: Art Vandelay

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    A thin layer of weak snow was buried on February 6th and was producing wide propagating avalanches in steep terrain 4 days ago. Avalanches failing at this interface were reported 48 hours ago as well. Avalanches at this interface, which is 3-5 feet below the surface, will be more likely today as the new snow overloads the upper portion of the snowpack. This problem is more pronounced on the north half of the compass in the middle and upper elevations. Avalanches at these depths (3-5 feet) will be difficult to escape. With this in mind, give yourself an extra wide margin around all avalanche terrain today.

    (2/15/2025)

    A skier triggered avalanche in the southern Tetons on a NE slope at 9400 feet on Feb 15th. This avalanche had varying crown depths up to 2.5 feet, putting it in the "persistent slab" category.

    SS-AS-R3-D2-O

    Red circle was the trigger point on ski cut. Red line is first release, blue line is second release.

Avalanche Discussion

Three day storm totals in the Tetons are sitting around 30” with 2” of water weight. Snow density and winds have increased over the past 24 hours. This means that the new snow today will not behave like the low density “blower” snow that was observed yesterday in many locations. Expect to find more reactive and ultimately more dangerous avalanche conditions today than yesterday despite the same danger rating. 

Potential weak interfaces can be found within the new snow (10-30” down), on the Feb 6th interface (3-5 feet down) and on the Feb 4th crust below 8500 feet (2-4 feet down). All of these depths are great enough to create avalanches that can injure or bury a person. The deeper the avalanche, the greater potential for significant harm. Today is a good day to dial back terrain choices, avoid overhead hazard, and give the snowpack time to adjust to this rapid change.

Regions covered