Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

The general avalanche hazard is MODERATE today. Recent strong, predominantly southwest winds have transported new and available snow onto lee slopes near ridgetops creating pockets of slabs to 18 inches in depth. Older snow rests on weak, light density snow and "ball bearing" graupel making a good layer for slides to start on. Yesterday a six foot deep slab avalanche released from a cornice drop as a person walked toward the ridge. This slide was on an east facing slope at 9000 feet and ran on the old, hard sun crust. Similar slides could be triggered especially in steep wind loaded north facing avalanche starting zones and cliff areas.