Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Lawinenprobleme

• 

  Wind Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Hochgebirge
  • Waldgrenze
  • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze

  Wahrscheinlichkeit

  Very Likely

  Größe

  1–2

  The Salt portion of this zone received over a foot of snowfall in the past 24 hours, whereas portions of the Wyoming have received less. New snow and moderate winds out of the west will form fresh soft slabs 2-3+ feet deep in exposed, mainly mid and upper-elevation terrain. While there is some uncertainty surrounding the persistent slab problem (see below), the wind slab problem is cut-and-dry: new snow + wind = dangerous avalanche conditions. The new snow is low density and will be easily transported by today's moderate to strong westerly winds. Expect to find touchy wind slabs, especially in the upper-elevation terrain of the Salt and on exposed middle and lower-elevation slopes.  These wind slabs will be dangerous on their own and are also adding more weight to the persistent weak layers described below. Avoid any slope where you find evidence of fresh wind drifting.

  

• 

  Persistent Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Hochgebirge
  • Waldgrenze
  • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze

  Wahrscheinlichkeit

  Possible

  Größe

  1.5–2.5

  A thin layer of weak snow was buried on February 6th. Avalanches breaking 2-4 feet deep on this weak layer are possible today in steep terrain as new snow and wind add stress to the snowpack. This problem is most pronounced on the north half of the compass above 7,500’ on both sheltered and exposed slopes. Avalanches involving this layer also have the potential to propagate long distances across slopes making escape difficult. These avalanches may be triggered without any prior signs of instability and could occur after multiple riders put tracks on a slope.

  Riding low angle terrain and managing the new snow avalanche problem should be enough to avoid deeper avalanches. However, given the consequences of being caught in a slab at these depths it is important to build in extra margin around avalanche terrain today.