Bollettino valanghe

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Pericolo valanghe

Sat
Alta quota
2 · Moderato
Limite del bosco
2 · Moderato
Sotto il limite
2 · Moderato
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In sintesi

Clear, sunny skies will destabilize recent snow causing wet loose avalanches large enough to injure or bury a person on steep slopes facing the sun. Seek cooler, shaded terrain when you find snow becoming wet and unstable by the afternoon. Although less likely, larger avalanches on buried weak layers remain possible on very steep, wind affected, and complex terrain including slopes facing the sun. 

 

Problemi valanghivi

  • Loose Wet

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Likely
    Dimensione
    1–2

    Today will be the first day of clear skies since a significant amount of snowfall. Recent snow will destabilize and produce large natural and human triggered wet loose avalanches on southeast through west aspects at all elevations. Be careful as these avalanches can start small, entrain larger amounts of snow, and injure or bury a person.  Expect to see increased wet avalanche activity around rock features that heat up surrounding snow surfaces. Southeast facing slopes will warm first followed by westerly slopes later in the day. Watch out for overhead hazards. Pay attention to snow surfaces becoming wet throughout the day and look for signs of snow destabilizing with visible roller balls or natural wet loose avalanches.

    (4/12/2024)

    An example of a wet loose avalanche and the amount of snow they can entrain. 

    Photo: Alex Drinkard

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Possible
    Dimensione
    1.5–2.5

    Weak layers buried 2-3 feet deep remain possible to trigger on very steep slopes over 35° steep in complex terrain. Warming temperatures and solar influence could increase the reactivity of buried weak layers, especially slopes facing the sun including lower elevations. Signs of instability such as cracking, collapsing, or recent avalanches may not be present before triggering a large, dangerous avalanche that is capable of propagating far across or upslope. Multiple tracks on a slope may not indicate that a slope is stable. Stick to lower consequence terrain away from terrain traps and rocky, convex, very steep slopes while the snowpack warms rapidly today. 

    (2/20/2025)

    This photo depicts one specific type of terrain where the persitent slab problem is relevant. 

    Photo: Alex Drinkard

Avalanche Discussion

Heating of Recent Snow

A significant amount of snow fell February 14-19 with totals from 33-54 inches and over 4 inches of snow water equivalent. Snow totals varied between the Salt River and Wyoming ranges which hold different snowpack characteristics. Areas that harbor a shallower and therefore weaker snowpack, such as portions of the Wyoming Range, are where persistent slab avalanches are more possible. The recent snow will experience rapidly changing conditions. Today is the first day of full sun heating up recent snow and destabilizing it. Snow surfaces will destabilize creating wet loose avalanches. The heating of the snow will also influence the overlying slab above the buried persistent weak layers. Weak faceted snow around a rain crust has been found across all elevations bands up to 9600’. It’s tough to predict how the sun will influence the reactivity, but I wouldn’t gamble on it today. Stack the cards in your favor and stick to less consequential terrain away from destabilizing snow on slopes facing the sun. The good news is that the large temperature fluctuations will help the snowpack stabilize. The persistent weak layers are gaining strength over time, but this process is slow. There’s plenty of high quality riding conditions on less consequential terrain. Spring conditions ripe for exploring and stepping into larger terrain are around the corner. 

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