Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

The general avalanche hazard is CONSIDERABLE. A well developed, persistent weak layer of faceted snow lies at the base of the snowpack. In steep terrain, the potential continues for backcountry travelers to trigger hard-slab avalanches involving this layer. Avalanches could be triggered by a single person, and more likely by heavier loads such as snowmobiles, even after a slope has been crossed many times. On Saturday, a snowmobiler was killed after triggering a deep, hard-slab avalanche on a south facing slope around 9,000 feet near Squaw Creek. Backcountry travelers could also trigger shallow soft slabs involving recently fallen snow in steep terrain.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. ) Light snowfall or flurries are expected over the peaks Tuesday night through Wednesday morning. The snow will become more widespread Wednesday afternoon and evening although only light accumulations are expected. Morning temperatures Wednesday will be in the single digits and rise to the mid or upper teens while ridgetop winds will be westerly at 10 to 15 miles per hour.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE in the Teton and Togwotee Pass areas, and CONSIDERABLE in the Greys River area where the snowpack remains more fragile. In steep terrain, pockets of soft slab avalanches up to 18 inches in depth could be triggered. Small but potentially lethal slides running on the buried, weak layer of surface hoar have been triggered by skiers and riders nearby, or on slopes that have been ridden a few times. The possibility also remains for riders and skiers to trigger hard slab avalanches to the base of the snowpack.