JACKSON, Wyo. — Today, Feb. 24, the Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center (BTAC) warns backcountry recreationists of “considerable” avalanche danger between 7,500 and 10,500 feet in the Tetons.
According to the report, dense, wet new snow and strong winds have made triggering an avalanche 1 to 2 feet deep “likely” in steep, wind loaded terrain at the mid and upper elevations.
“These slides could be large enough to bury or injure a person,” the BTAC writes.
After a warm and powerful storm delivered 10 inches of snow and over an inch of Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) to the Tetons in the past 18 hours, winds have been strong and averaging in the upper 20s (mph) out of the southwest. With temperatures in the upper 20s at 10,000 feet and above freezing in the valley, slabs that are harder than the average “soft slab” will make stability assessments more difficult, because wind slabs might not release under skis and instead break above.
Natural avalanches are possible in very steep and heavily wind loaded terrain above 9,000 feet, but even in steep low elevation terrain there are wet snow avalanches possible where rain has fallen on dry snow. The BTAC recommends careful and conservative route finding in and around avalanche terrain.
“Be on the lookout for signs of instability in wind drifted snow such as cracking, collapsing and recent avalanches,” the BTAC writes. “It is worth noting that natural avalanches were reported on Teton Pass this morning and affected travel on the road. Down low, rain has fallen on dry snow and saturated the surface. Wet loose avalanches will be a concern in very steep low elevation terrain. Today is a good day to seek out sheltered, low angle powder and give the snowpack time to adjust.”
While conditions are expected to drop to “moderate” danger tomorrow, Feb. 25, the BTAC always recommends skiers and boarders exercise caution.
