Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Temperatures are starting out 5 to 10 degrees warmer than yesterday morning. On steep, wind loaded slopes above 9,000 feet, the chance for skiers and riders to trigger wind slabs ranging in depth from 6 to 18 inches will increase as the day warms. These slabs reside above stout melt-freeze crusts which provide good sliding surfaces. Wet slides may develop before noon on very steep, sunlit aspects. The underlying melt-freeze crusts could enable these slides to travel long distances and entrain significant amounts of wet snow. Get an early start, monitor warming temperatures and the impact of the sun, and have a plan to safely return to the parking lot before snow surfaces become wet. With the backcountry remaining crowded, strict social distancing protocols are essential.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Expect partly cloudy skies and the chance for convective mountain snow showers in the afternoon. Any precipitation will be in the form of rain in the valleys. Overnight lows in the mountains will be in the low 20s before rising to near 40 during the heat of the day. Westerly ridgetop winds will range from 5 to 15 miles per hour.On Sunday, the general avalanche hazard is expected to be Moderate above 9,000 feet and rising from Low to Moderate in the afternoon between 7,500 feet and 9,000 feet. Above 7,500 feet, any avalanche activity will be confined to last week’s snowfall which resides above stout melt-freeze crusts that provide good sliding surfaces. Up high, skiers and riders may be able to trigger wind slabs with depths ranging from 6 to 18 inches in steep, wind loaded terrain. The likelihood of triggering these slabs will increase as the day warms. Solar input and daytime warming will also bring about the possibility of wet slides. Get an early start, monitor warming temperatures and the impact of the sun, and have a safe plan to descend before snow surfaces become wet. The snowpack is mostly stable below 7,500 feet. With the backcountry remaining crowded, strict social distancing protocols are essential.