Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

The General Avalanche Hazard is MODERATE. At the highest elevations, pockets of slab up to 18 inches deep lie upon weak, faceted snow. These slabs will increase in depth and become more susceptible to failure as new snow accumulates throughout the day. Backcountry travelers could trigger these slabs in steep, wind-loaded avalanche starting zones. On Sunday a snowmobiler was buried in the Cliff Creek area near Bondurant. His companions dug him out uninjured. Similar events may be possible with larger triggers (there were two machines on the slope at the same time)pulling out older snow resting on weak layers at higher elevations on northerly aspects.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )A snow advisory is in effect for Western Wyoming until 11 am Tuesday. Pacific moisture and strong winds are forecasted to bring 6 to 12 inches to the mountains. Daytime mountain highs will reach 30 degrees f. and upper elevation winds will be Southwesterly at 30 to 40 miles per hour. Snow depths could be deeper on the western slopes.The General Avalanche Hazard is expected to be CONSIDERABLE Tuesday morning. Strong winds with increasing snow will create dangerous slabs in steep, lee areas above 8000 feet. New surface slabs could release on lighter density layers in newer snow or fail on deeper weak layers formed during the Thanksgiving dry spell.