Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 5 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Avalanche conditions are dangerous above 8,000 feet. Skiers and riders could easily trigger small to large wind slabs in steep, wind loaded terrain. Temperatures are starting out cold, but the days are getting longer and the sun angle is getting higher. If skies are mostly sunny throughout the day, snow surfaces could become wet, particularly at the lower elevations. On sunlit aspects, this scenario could increase the likelihood of triggering wind slabs and bring about the possibility of small wet slides lower down. Persistent deep slab avalanches remain a serious concern, and involvement in one of these large to very large slabs will almost certainly result in another fatality. Skiers and riders are likely to trigger these slabs on a variety of aspects and elevations. Continue to make conservative terrain choices, monitor temperatures and the impact of the sun, and transition to shaded terrain if snow surfaces start to become damp.

Avalanche problems

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2–3

    The Southwest Trails’ snowpack has poor structure, and backcountry travelers could easily trigger destructive persistent deep slab avalanches. This is particularly pertinent east of the Salt River Range where snow depths are shallower. These deadly slabs could also step down from the release of a wind slab. Slab depths are likely to range between 4 and 8 feet above 7,500 feet and 2 to 4 feet below 7,500 feet. Remember, previous tracks are not an indication of stability with a persistent deep slab problem.

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Westerly to southwesterly winds have formed fresh wind slabs on leeward aspects. These surface slabs could be 1 to 4 feet deep and will become more sensitive to human triggers as the day progresses. These wind slab avalanches could step down and trigger a much larger deep persistent slab avalanche.

Avalanche Discussion

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )After a chance for a few lingering, scattered snow showers, northerly flow aloft will develop by the morning and partly cloudy skies are expected for most of the day. Overnight lows in the mountains will be in the low negative single digits before rising to around 10 in the afternoon. Westerly to northwesterly ridgetop winds will range from 10 to 15 miles per hour.Avalanche conditions remain dangerous, and the general avalanche hazard is expected to be Considerable on Sunday. Skiers and riders could easily trigger wind slabs ranging in depth from 1 to 4 feet in steep, wind loaded terrain. Persistent deep slab avalanches remain a threat, and involvement will almost certainly result in another fatality. In the Tetons, where the most snow fell, wind slabs will be easily triggered and on the deeper end of the spectrum, and persistent deep slabs will be less likely to be impacted by backcountry travelers. Togwotee Pass is just the opposite. There, significantly less snow fell over the last couple of days, and the underlying persistent weak layers are much more pronounced. The Southwest Trails forecast zone is somewhere in the middle, and both types of avalanches will be likely to be human triggered on Sunday.

Regions covered