Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Last night’s snowfall has created very dangerous avalanche conditions above an elevation of 8,500 feet. Conditions have become ripe for a serious avalanche accident. Natural avalanche activity likely occurred in the backcountry overnight and is possible today. Large avalanches are failing on persistent weak layers that have been deeply buried. These conditions are especially dangerous because a person may ride or ski multiple steep slopes and then unexpectedly trigger a very large slab avalanche. The best way to manage today’s hazards is stay off of and out from under steep slopes with a suspect snow structure. Expert terrain evaluation and route selection skills are essential. For these reasons backcountry users are encouraged to stay on low angle slopes and avoid avalanche terrain in suspect areas. Avalanches are unlikely in areas below an elevation of 8,500 feet where the new snow that has fallen since last Sunday has accumulated on bare ground.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Snowfall intensity was picking up just before sunset to rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour. Winds were beginning to veer to the west-northwest. Heavy snowfall is likely to continue until midnight before decreasing in intensity by sunrise. Light snowfall will linger over the area in the morning before it diminishes in the afternoon. Temperatures will drop into the single digits overnight and rise into the teens in the mountains on Saturday. Winds will be westerly at 15 to 25 with gusts to 40 miles per hour. Avalanche conditions are dangerous at the upper elevations and on steep north facing terrain down to an elevation of 8,000 feet. In these areas new snow that has fallen since Sunday lies upon weak layers of surface hoar and faceted snow. Large slab avalanches could release naturally or be triggered by skiers and riders on these persistent weak layers. These slabs could be up to three feet deep and once released could gouge down into older layers of faceted snow. More snow tonight means tomorrow’s avalanches will be larger and more dangerous. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be considerable at the upper elevations (9,000 to 10,500 feet) and moderate at the mid elevations (7,500 to 8,000 feet).Avalanches are unlikely in areas where the snow that has fallen since Sunday has accumulated on mostly bare ground. In these areas the general avalanche hazard will be low.