Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

The general avalanche hazard is MODERATE above an elevation of 8,500 feet and LOW below. Soft slabs to eighteen inches in depth formed by recent snow and winds could be user triggered on steep terrain, particularly near ridge crests and below cliff areas. Periods of sunshine will make slabs more sensitive to triggering and increase the chance of sloughs from cliff areas.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Snow is forecasted to return to the mountains of Western Wyoming overnight and bring up to four inches of light density accumulations by Tuesday morning. Occasional light snow can be expected during the day Tuesday. Temperatures will dip again Monday night to just below zero then rise during the day to around ten above. Winds will become more westerly and increase from ten miles per hour in the morning to twenty in the afternoon.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be Moderate Tuesday. Cold temperatures, light density snow and light winds will combine to add more powder to existing newer snow. The new snow rests on sun crusts on southerly aspects and melt free crusts on northerly slopes. The new snow has been bonding well to existing surfaces on moderate slopes and little slab development has occurred. Backcountry travelers could trigger sloughs or soft slabs to twelve inches in depth on steeper, lee slopes at the higher elevations. At mid and lower elevations the snowpack is mostly stable.