Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Lawinenprobleme

• 

  Wind Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Hochgebirge
  • Waldgrenze
  • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze

  Wahrscheinlichkeit

  Possible

  Größe

  1–2

  Soft wind slabs that average 1-2 feet in thickness will be reactive to human triggering in specific locations throughout the middle and upper elevations. Humans are mostly likely to trigger these slabs in steep, unsupported terrain features that are exposed to direct sunlight. Terrain features could include steep ridges and spines, couloirs, and slopes in and around cliff bands. 

  These slabs are the remnants of the most recent atmospheric river event that occured from March 14-16. Winds started off strong and southerly, and eventually died off and veered all the way to the NNE. Snowfall totals ranged from 12 to 16 inches with around 1.7 inches of SWE. Temperatures cooled into the single digits after the storm pass, helping to settle and condense the new snow. This has resulted in uniform slabs throughout the terrain that are on average 1 foot thick and 4F in hardness. 

  Loose snow and Cornices: loose snow avalanches (both dry and wet) could pose a threat to individuals in very steep sunlit terrain at all elevations today. Cornice collapse could trigger unusually large avalanches for the given conditions.

  

• 

  Persistent Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Hochgebirge
  • Waldgrenze
  • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze

  Wahrscheinlichkeit

  Possible

  Größe

  1.5–2.5

  Lingering beneath a hard slab (and beneath new snow or wind slabs) lies weak layers buried 2-3’ down. The Feb 18th layer is our main concern due to an increase in avalanches in the Wyoming Range(Shepard Creek, Hoback Peak). The Greys River forecast zone has a diverse snowpack with stark differences between each individual mountain range. The Salt and Snake River Ranges have not seen the uptick in recent avalanche activity or propagating results in stability tests. Our main focus continues to be on the heightened avalanche danger in the Wyoming Range. Increased loading from this  storm will add stress to these weak layers, especially in wind loaded terrain. Reported avalanches have been triggered remotely, and this potential will remain today. Avoid slopes over 30° and understand that large avalanches can be triggered remotely from gentler slopes above, below, or beside steep slopes.