Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

The avalanche danger is Low today. Avalanches are unlikely with the exception being human triggered shallow wet loose avalanches in very steep sunlit terrain. Below freezing temps overnight have allowed snow surfaces to regain strength. Rising temps along with light rain showers in the lower elevations will help to break down crusts by midday. High winds and increasing clouds in the afternoon will lessen the amount of melting occurring. Snow showers will develop in the upper elevations in the afternoon but not accumulate enough to create new snow instabilities. Expect 1-2” of new snow in the higher elevations by sunset. It will be important to pay attention to rapidly changing conditions such as active loading of slopes and shooting cracks should new snow materialize sooner or greater than what is forecasted.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )The NWS Riverton office has issued a Winter Weather Advisory in effect from noon Monday to 6pm Tuesday. Cloud cover will begin to increase overnight in advance of an approaching trough. Temperatures will once again dip below freezing at all elevations. Temperatures will rebound during the day with highs in the low thirties between 8,000-9,000 feet. As this system approaches temperatures will gradually decline and winds will ramp up. Mountain snow showers and valley rain will begin in the afternoon. As the temperatures dip the rain/snow line will drop close to valley level. Daytime accumulations will be 3-5” in all three forecast areas. The jet stream will be aligned directly overhead for a portion of this storm resulting in winds out of the west and southwest at 25-45 mph with higher gusts.The avalanche danger will be Low tomorrow. Overnight temps will allow surfaces that melted today to refreeze and gain strength. The danger could rise to Moderate in the higher elevations late in the day. This will depend on the timing of the arrival of new snow. New slabs will begin forming by evening but will be relatively low in volume. It will be important to pay attention to rapidly changing conditions such as shooting cracks and active loading of slopes if traveling in the mountains late in the day tomorrow.