Avalanche forecast

Tetons

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

At the upper elevations new snow and west to northwest winds are creating isolated pockets of new wind slab and increasing the load on existing persistent slabs. Human triggered slab avalanches are possible on steep wind loaded aspects. Avalanches are unlikely at the mid and lower elevations.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    West to northwest winds have begun to form isolated pockets of new soft surface slab 6 to 12 inches in depth in leeward aspects along the higher ridge lines. These new slabs are forrming upon cold light density snow and in places sun crusts and are could be triggered by humans in steep wind loaded avalanche starting zones. On steep northerly aspects these small surface slabs could trigger underlying persistent slabs.

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    New snow and winds will increase the load on persistent slabs that exist on steep north facing terrain at the upper elevations. Some potential remains for humans to triggered pockets of slab up to two feet in depth on very steep slopes that are underlain by a base layer of faceted. Obstacles associated with shallow snow depths increase the consequences of injury if a person triggers one of these slabs.

Avalanche Discussion

Skies are expected to remain cloudy with less than an inch of new snow overnight. On Thursday snow is expected to develop and continue through the day and into the night. Four to eight inches of accumulation are possible at the upper elevations by Friday morning. This snowfall will be accompanied by increasing temperatures and strong southwest winds. Periods of rain are possible in the valleys. At the upper elevations increasingly denser snow will continue to accumulate on lighter density snow. The combination of new snow, warming temperatures and strong winds will create areas of unstable snow. Buried sun crusts, light density snow and faceted snow at the base of the snowpack on northerly aspects are potential bed surfaces for avalanches. Humans who venture onto steep wind loaded slopes could trigger soft surface slabs up to two feet in depth. On steep northerly aspects these slabs could step down into the base layer of faceted snow and be up to three feet deep. The general avalanche hazard at the upper elevations is expected to be MODERATE and increase as the day progresses.At the mid elevations some potential exists for humans to trigger isolated pockets of soft surface slab up to a foot deep in steep wind loaded active avalanche starting zones. Avalanches are unlikely at the lower elevations. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be LOW at the mid and lower elevations.

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