Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

The General Avalanche Hazard is MODERATE. Two avalanche scenarios remain possible. First, surface slabs one to three feet in depth, which rest atop suncrusts and buried surface hoar, remain susceptible to human triggers. The second avalanche problem is deep slab instability. Weak faceted snow lies beneath a supportable upper snowpack, which can give backcountry travelers a false sense of security. Over the past few days, several avalanche events have been set off that have run to the ground. These deep hard slabs could be initiated by skiers, snowmobilers, large groups, or smaller surface slabs, and carry severe consequences.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )An inversion is expected to build though the night on Friday as the cold artic airmass remains over the region on Saturday. Overnight lows in the mountains are projected to be in the negative teens before rising into the single digits on Saturday. Temperatures should be much colder in the valley as radiation cooling drops the thermometer to near 30 below by morning, and it should not rise above zero on Saturday. Upslope flow could squeeze out a trace of light density snow east of the divide. Northeasterly ridgecrest winds are forecasted to veer to the East at 10 to 15 mph.The General Avalanche Hazard is expected to remain MODERATE on Saturday. The current avalanche problems will continue. Surface slabs, which have the potential of sweeping riders or skiers into terrain traps or over cliff bands could be triggered throughout the region on Saturday. In the shallow snowpacks of the Togwotee and Greys River areas, backcountry travelers could cause failure of deep hard slabs releasing to the ground.