Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

The General Avalanche Hazard is MODERATE. In the southern and eastern portions of the area with greater impacts from the strong winter storm to the south and east new soft surface slabs up to two feet in depth have been formed by south and east winds. In other areas above 8,000 feet shallower soft new surface slabs and older hard slabs up to two feet in depth persist and in some areas lie upon buried weak layers of faceted snow. Backcountry travelers could trigger these soft surface slabs and older hard slabs in steep wind loaded avalanche starting zones.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )A major winter storm will impact southern and central Wyoming. The western mountains will experience cloudy skies and light to moderate snowfall with several inches of accumulation likely. The southern end of the Wyoming and Salt River Ranges and areas east of the Continental Divide could see significantly greater snowfall amounts. Mountain temperatures will be in the teens. Ridge crest winds will be generally east to southeast at 10 to 20 with areas to the south and east seeing speeds of 30 to 35 with gusts to 50 miles per hour. The general avalanche hazard above 7,500 feet is expected to be MODERATE, however areas to the south and east that experience significantly greater snowfall amounts and stronger winds may have CONSIDERABLE hazard. Below 7,500 feet the hazard is expected to be LOW.