Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

The General Avalanche Hazard remains MODERATE. Two avalanche scenarios are possible today. Pockets of surface slab 6 to 18 inches in depth could be triggered on steep, wind loaded slopes near ridge crests, and could sweep skiers or riders into terrain traps or over cliff bands. Deeper instabilities associated with buried weak layers of faceted snow persist, especially in steep, rocky areas with a shallow snowpack. On steep slopes this snowpack could fail to the ground under the weight of a skier, snowmachine or groups of skiers or snowmachines. Unstable slopes may be crossed multiple times before a weak spot is hit and the slopes fail. On Thursday a snowmobiler was killed in the Lionhead area. Similar avalanche events could be triggered today with sever consequences and caution is advised.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Clear skies are expected on Saturday as strong temperature inversions develop overnight resulting in valley lows near 10 below. The mountains should dip into the single digits before rising into the high 20s on Saturday as the valley rebounds into the teens. Northwesterly winds are projected to remain light at 5 to 10 mph.The General Avalanche Hazard is expected to remain MODERATE on Saturday. Pockets of surface slab 6 to 18 inches in depth exist, and could be triggered on steep, wind loaded aspects near ridgecrests. Deeper instabilities associated with buried weak layers of faceted snow persist, especially in steep, rocky areas with a shallow snowpack.