Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Overnight, new soft slabs up to 10 inches in depth have formed on wind loaded aspects. These slabs overlie a variety of weak layers including supportable sun crusts on sunlit aspects to surface hoar and near surface facets on shaded aspects and will likely be easy to trigger, posing their greatest threat in terrain above cliff areas or terrain traps. The general avalanche hazard is LOW early this morning but will quickly rise to MODERATE as another 3 inches of snow with strong Westerly winds are forecasted throughout the day. By this afternoon, slabs could reach 15 inches in depth. Avalanches are unlikely in the shallow snowpack below 9,000 feet.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )A Pacific storm system will spread snow across the region tonight with a period of moderate to heavy snowfall likely late tonight and early Saturday. In the next 24 hours, 6 to 10 inches of snow is in the forecast for the mountains with 3 to 5 inches likely in the valleys along with gusty winds to 20 mph out of the Southwest. Temperatures will drop into the 20s.AVALANCHE HAZARD FOR THE TETON, TOGWOTEE PASS/CONTINENTAL DIVIDE AND GREYS RIVER/SOUTHWEST TRAILS AREAThe general avalanche hazard will increase from LOW as new soft slabs form on wind-loaded aspects overlying a variety of weak layers and sliding surfaces. These slabs will likely be easy to trigger, but due to their small size pose their greatest threat on terrain above cliff areas or terrain traps.