Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

The temperature on Mount Coffin barely cooled to the freezing point overnight. The avalanche hazard is Considerable today. Frozen snow surfaces will quickly soften and weaken to sunlight and rapidly warming temperatures today. Slab avalanches with three foot depths could be human triggered or possibly release naturally. These slabs will be most sensitive in very steep terrain where excessive heating of the snowpack occurs. Caution is advised and large avalanches will be possible today in higher elevation bowls and cirques. Wet loose avalanche activity is also expected at all elevations today.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Another day of high pressure and sunny skies is expected on Saturday. Mountain temperatures are to again reach near the forty degree mark. Winds are to be light. The general avalanche hazard is expected to increase to Considerable during the day. Sunlight and warm temperatures will again stress the slab strength in very steep avalanche terrain. In the afternoon backcountry travelers will have an increased likelihood of triggering these slabs that could have depths to three feet. These slabs have the potential to release naturally in cliff areas and are most prominent in terrain above 9000 feet but can be found at lower elevations in isolated areas.