Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

The general avalanche hazard is MODERATE. Deep hard slabs three to five feet in depth persist in steep avalanche paths that did not slide during the recent storm cycle. The potential for the weight of a single person to trigger one of these slabs exist but is slowly decreasing. Larger triggers such as snow machines are more likely to initiate the failure of one of these slabs. These slabs may be crossed multiple times before a weak spot is hit and the slab releases. For this reason tracks are not an indication of stability. Most avalanche fatalities occur during periods of moderate or considerable hazard. Clear skies tend to encourage people to take greater risks and warmer temperatures and sustained periods of sunshine will likely increase the sensitivity of these slabs to human triggers. Conservation terrain choices and restraint are essential as the consequences of triggering one of these slabs could be fatal.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )A cool northeast flow aloft will be over the western mountains and valleys of Wyoming tonight through Saturday. Light snowfall, with accumulations of about an inch or so, are possible along the crest and on the east slope of the Continental Divide overnight. On Friday skies are expected to be partly cloudy. Temperatures will rise into the 20s from overnight lows near 10 degrees. Winds will be east to northeast at five to 15 miles per hour. The general avalanche hazard is expected to MODERATE. Deep hard slabs up to five feet in depth persist in steep avalanche paths that did not slide during the last storm cycle. The potential for humans to trigger these slabs exists but is slowly decreasing. These slabs may be crossed multiple times before a weak spot is hit and the slab fails. For this reason tracks are not an indication of stability. Snowmachines are heavier than skiers and typically cut deeper into the slabs and therefore are more likely to trigger a deep hard slab avalanche. Caution is advised as the consequences of triggering one of these slabs is likely to be severe.