Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

The General Avalanche Hazard is HIGH. Backcountry travel in avalanche terrain or run out zones is not recommended today. A foot of heavy snow with strong Southwest to Westerly winds have developed soft slabs to three feet in depth in lee areas below ridgecrests and gulleys that could run naturally or be easily triggered. This new snow, combined with snowfall ending Friday, added weight to existing slabs resting on sun crusts and well developed, weak surface hoar. Triggered surface slabs could dig out deeper and deeper layers with the possibility of pulling out the full snowpack to the ground on a weak faceted base. Five sledders were killed in avalanches in the Northern Rockies Saturday, the nearest at Palisades Peak East of Swan Valley, Idaho. Ride in the trees today and carry shovels, transceivers and avalanche probes if you must travel in avalanche country.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Snowfall should continue heavy until early morning Monday. Up to 6 inches are expected in the Tetons and Greys River Ranges with 3 inches in the Togwotee area. Winds will be strong at 30 to 35 mph from the Southwest until evening when they will veer to Northwesterly and slow to 15 to 20 mph. Temperatures will cool to the low teens overnight then warm to twenty Monday. Light snow will linger into Monday but little accumulation is expected.The Avalanche Hazard, currently at MODERATE throughout the region will increase with new snow and wind. The Southwest Trails/Greys River area has received similar weather to the Teton area but an early season shallow snowpack developed weak, faceted snow that reamains a concern for full depth avalanches. The Continental Divide/Togwotee Pass area received less recent snow but the shallow snowpack there consists of a ridable shell over mostly faceted snow that could fail to the ground.