Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

The general avalanche hazard is CONSIDERABLE. A foot of new snow driven by strong west to southwest winds have created easily triggered soft slabs to two feet in depth. Slabs will run on lee slopes in areas where a slick, strong melt-freeze crust exists. The crust is above 8,000 feet on northerly aspects and above 9,000 feet on east and west aspects.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )The second part of a powerful storm system will affect the Western Wyoming mountains tonight. The heaviset snow is expected between 11 PM and 5 AM with another 5 to 10 inches of additional snow forecast. The snowfall will decrease to scattered snow showers by midday Tuesday and dissipate completely by Tuesday evening. Strong westerly winds are forecast tonight and should begin to relax during the day. Mountain temperatures will remain in the teens to 20's. The general avalanche hazard at the upper elevations and on steep shaded mid elevation terrain is expected to be CONSIDERABLE on Tuesday. New soft slabs up to two feet in depth that lie on a slick buried crust could be easily triggered by humans or release spontaneously. Avalanche activity is not likely on mid and lower elevation terrain where new snow has been deposited on previously bare ground.