Avalanche watches and warnings in effect

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) - This week's snowstorms have increased the risk of avalanches across eastern Idaho and western Wyoming. Many of our mountains are under an avalanche watch or warning. 

A watch indicates natural and human-made avalanches are more likely to occur, and a warning means experts are certain that avalanches are going to happen.

The Caribou, Sawtooth, Soldier and Teton mountain ranges are all under an avalanche watch Thursday.

The Bear River Range is under an avalanche warning.

The avalanche risk isn't solely determined by the amount of snow an area receives, but it's also dependent on the type of snow on the mountain.

"When we start to add more snow on top of that weak layer and we add wind loading in some some down, you know, some some leeward locations, that's when you get a heavier, heavier layer on top of a weak layer," Tim Axford of the National Weather Service said. "And it doesn't take much to really cause that avalanche to start."

Experts advise us not to travel into the backcountry during these times.