The annual International Stage Stop Sled Dog Race steps off from the Jackson town square Friday evening. Race officials have released the schedule for the ceremonial start for what will be a nine-day race taking 22 sled-dog teams through nine western Wyoming towns before … Continue Reading
Biologists from Bridger Teton National Forest in cooperation with Wyoming Game and Fish Department have trapped the mountain lion that has been active in the area of the Cache Creek Trail Head just east of Jackson. However, Game and Fish Spokesman Mark Gocke says the cat’s two 7-month-old kittens have still not been rounded up. Gocke says … Continue Reading
Broadcasting and electricity could get a little “jiggy” today and tomorrow after a strong solar flare erupted Sunday evening and continues to affect the earth. According to the National Weather Service Space Weather Prediction Center, the impacts of the solar storm are likely to be minimal, but could pose an impact to power grids, where voltage corrections may be required and false alarms triggered on some protective devices. Satellite radio signals could also be briefly interrupted. The weather service also says high-latitude sky watchers could be treated to some displays of the aurora borealis.
Forty hours after it closed on Thursday, Teton Pass has been reopened after pretty-much round-the-clock work by highway crews. Altogether, a Wyoming Department of Highways spokesman says there were 12 major snow slides over two days, and he estimates there were another 20 minor slides. While crews have conducted considerable avalanche control, the snow on slopes above the road is still unstable. There are concerns that slides could be easily set off by skiers who may enter the area. The avalanche danger in the region continues to be rated “high” and forest and weather officials are discouraging any travel in avalanche-prone areas by back-country travelers. This includes, but is not limited to the Teton Pass area.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Friday night issued an avalanche warning for the western mountains of Wyoming effective until midnight Sunday. This warning includes the Teton, Gros Ventre, Snake River, Salt River and Wyoming Ranges as well as the west slope of the Wind River Range and the Togwotee Pass area. Forecasters say heavy snow and strong winds have created very dangerous avalanche conditions where medium to large natural avalanches are likely, and in fact have been already impacting the area’s roadways. The Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center says over the past seven days, there have been 135 avalanches in the area. Travel in avalanche prone areas is to be avoided. Weather officials and urge all outdoor recreationists – regardless of their ability – to heed the warning.
Teton Pass remains closed. Efforts to clear multiple avalanches continued through the day, but crews only made it to the summit while the west side remains blocked tonight. Crews hope to try again Saturday to reopen the highway. However, as much as a foot of additional snow is forecast for the area of the pass on Friday night, bringing with it the possibility of more instability to the slides that already have been cleared, as well as adding to those areas that have not.
The Wyoming Department of Transportation closed Teton Pass Thursday night at 9:15 pm due to deteriorating weather and road conditions. Crews will again conduct avalanche control measures overnight. There is no estimate of when the pass will be reopened.
The National Weather service says measurements of snow around the valley floor of Jackson Hole from the current storm ranged upward from 12 inches this morning. Among the amounts reported were 12 inches at Teton Village, 14 inches in South Park, 14 ½ inches at Wilson, 15 inches at the South Entrance of Yellowstone National Park and 16 inches in Alpine. A spotter at Swinging Bridge south of Jackson reported measuring 24 inches there. As the snow continues to fall in those significant amounts, activities in the region continue to be curtailed. Bridger Teton National … Continue Reading
The winter weather that swept into Jackson Hole yesterday not only snarled traffic, causing a host of slide-offs and fender-benders, but it also set up very serious avalanche conditions. Lead Avalanche Forecaster for the Bridger-Teton National Forest Bob Comey says … Continue Reading
Could this be it at last? The National Weather Service says a major change in the weather is in store for Western Wyoming beginning Wednesday and continuing into the weekend. According to the Weather Service, a strong, moist westerly flow is expected to develop, breaking … Continue Reading
