Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Above an elevation of 7,500 feet, the general avalanche hazard is CONSIDERABLE this morning and will rise to HIGH this afternoon. Six to eight inches of new snow of combined with increasing southwest winds and warming temperatures have created soft slabs up to 12 inches in depth. An additional 6 to 10 inches is expected during the day which will increase the size and sensitivity of the slabs. Backcountry travelers could easily trigger these slabs, along with loose snow sluffs, on steep, wind-loaded slopes. Higher consequences will result from failure of deeper instabilities formed in November. Dangerous hard slabs, two to four feet in depth, could be triggered by backcountry travelers, step down from smaller slides, or release spontaneously under the load of the new snow. The general avalanche hazard is MODERTE below 7,500 feet where the primary concern is newly developed soft slabs and loose snow sluffs 6 to 12 inches in depth. TRAVEL IN AVALANCHE TERRAIN IS NOT RECOMMENDED.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )The strong Pacific weather system that brought snowfall to the area on Sunday is expected to impact the region Sunday night through Monday. Up to 9 inches of new snow could fall overnight, followed by an additional 5 to 10 inches on Monday. Mountain temperatures are expected to warm into the upper teens as southwesterly winds range from 10 to 20 miles per hour.Above 7,500 feet, the general avalanche hazard is expected to be CONSIDERABLE Monday morning and could rise to HIGH later in the day if forecasted snowfall materializes. Warming temperatures, combined with light to moderate winds, will created easily triggered soft slabs and loose snow sluffs to two feet. Much higher consequences will result from failure of deeper instabilities. These dangerous hard slabs, three to six feet in depth, could be triggered by backcountry travelers, step down from smaller slides, or release spontaneously under the load of the new snow. Below 7,500 feet, the general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE where the primary concern is newly developed soft slabs and loose snow sluffs 6 to 12 inches in depth.