Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

The general avalanche hazard is MODERATE today. Pockets of slabs up to four feet in depth lie upon persistent weak layers of faceted snow. These slabs could still be triggered by a single skier or snow machiner on steep slopes, even if that slope has been previously crossed multiple times. Sunday a group of riders triggered a large slide southeast of Afton. Two were carried and one was buried but dug out uninjured. The debris was reported as twenty feet deep and the slide ran a few hundred yards. The slope had been previously high marked three times. The snowpack conditions that caused the slide remain. Remember, when on avalanche terrain, travel one at a time and observers should be out of the slide path.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Light snow tonight with an inch or two of accumulation expected. Northwest flow will continue Wednesday with occasional snow flurries. Lows will be near zero tonight and highs around 12 tomorrow (Wednesday). Winds will be brisk out of the northwest at 25 to 30 mph with gusts to 45. AVALANCHE HAZARD FOR THE TETON AREAThe general avalanche hazard is expected to remain LOW at all elevations Wednesday. Backcountry users should remember that Low hazard can mean that slides are still possible and the forecast does not include extreme terrain like steep cliffs and chutes.AVLANCHE HAZARD FOR THE TOGWOTEE PASS/CONTINENTAL DIVIDE AREASThe general avalanche hazard is MODERATE. The shallow snowpack and weak faceted snow could produce slides to two feet in depth on steep slopes by the second or later traveler. GREYS RIVER/SOUTHWEST TRAILS AREAThe general avalanche hazard is MODERATE. Faceted, weak snow deep in the snowpack continues to exist. Sunday one snowmobiler was buried and two were carried by a four foot deep slide on a west facing slope southeast of Afton. The slope had been traveled many times and highmarked at least three times before the slide. Debris was reported to be twenty feet deep. All involved were uninjured (except the machines).Backcountry users are advised to consult area specific forecasts issued every morning as expected conditions can change overnight due to unexpected weather developments and new information may become available. Backcountry users are advised to consult area specific forecasts issued every morning as expected conditions can change overnight due to unexpected weather developments and new information may become available.