Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Strong winds continue to load existing slabs and create dangerous unstable conditions on steep wind loaded slopes. The general avalanche hazard is CONSIDERABLE. Soft surface slabs up to three feet deep exist, could be triggered by the weight of a single person and have potential to release naturally in response to continued wind loading. Good terrain evaluation and snow stability assessment skills are necessary for safe travel in avalanche terrain.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Some light snow will fall over the western mountains mainly north of Alpine overnight with accumulations of three to six inches. On Friday skies will be cloudy with a couple inches of new snow in the morning hours, a break during the day and increasing snowfall by evening. Temperatures will be in the teens and 20s. Winds will be westerly at 25 to 35 miles per hour with higher gusts. Strong west winds and new snow will continue to build soft surface slabs. These slabs are likely to be easily triggered by humans and could release naturally on steep wind loaded aspects. Slab depths of one to three feet are possible at the higher elevations (9,000 to 10,500 feet) where the general avalanche hazard is expected to be CONSIDERABLE. Pockets of slab up to two feet in depth could be human triggered on steep slopes with fresh deposits of wind-blown snow below an elevation of 9,000 feet where the general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE. Some potential may exist in isolated areas for hard slabs up to four feet deep to occur especially if larger triggers such as snowmachines are involved.