Avalanche forecast

Tetons

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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The snowpack is weak and dangerous avalanche conditions exist. The incoming storm will increase the hazard today. While skiers and riders could trigger wind slab avalanches on density breaks within the new and recent snowfall, the primary concern continues to be persistent slab avalanches. Skiers and riders can trigger avalanches involving old weaknesses in the snowpack. These slabs will be larger and more sensitive at the mid and high elevations and could also occur at the low elevations where they will likely release as wet slabs. Evaluate the snowpack to identify weak layers and make conservative terrain choices.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    2

    Faceted snow and melt-freeze crusts formed during an extended dry period that ended on December 11th. Since that time, the higher elevations of the Tetons have received close to four inches of snow water equivalent. Slabs that could be soft or hard can be triggered in avalanche terrain with depths to three feet at the higher elevations and to eighteen inches at the low elevations. Be particularly wary of unsupported slopes and cliff areas.

Avalanche Discussion

As the trough axis passes to the east, snow will taper off overnight first in the Tetons and then in the other forecast areas. A few more inches of snow could fall during this time. By morning, expect mostly clear skies and northwest winds to have decreased to averages of ten to fifteen miles per hour. The northwest flow is to keep temperatures on the cold side, with mountain highs near ten degrees and valleys reaching the low twenties. The general avalanche hazard will be remain elevated as the snowpack adjusts to its many recent changes. In the Tetons and Southwest Trails areas it will be Considerable above 7500 feet, while the lower elevations of those zones and the Togwotee Pass area is rated as Moderate. Skiers and riders will have the potential to trigger shallow wind slabs from todays storm however the primary consideration and focus needs to remain on the persistent slab problem. The need to focus on and evaluate the weak snow buried December 11 is because even though triggering these events on this layer may be less likely, the weakness exists in the same terrain as the wind slab problem, is harder to predict, and carries far more serious consequences.

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