Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

As the day progresses, isolated pockets of soft wind slab with depths building to 6 to 12 inches could develop above 9,000 feet. These slabs are forming on sun crusts, wind pack and settled powder with sporadic areas of surface hoar. In very steep, avalanche prone terrain, skiers and riders could trigger these slabs along with loose snow sloughs. While small, these avalanches could have serious consequences in long, sustained couloirs, on hanging snow fields and in cliff areas. The snowpack is mostly stable below 9,000 feet, and avalanches are unlikely.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )A cold front will move through the region tonight and into Sunday from the northwest to the southeast. Snowfall intensity will be highest during frontal passage. Snow showers will begin to taper off in the Tetons and Togwotee Pass by midday followed by the Southwest Trails area later in the afternoon. Overnight lows in the mountains will be in the mid-teens before rising into the low 20s. Ridgetop winds will veer to the northeast and decrease to 10 to 15 miles per hour.Depending on the amount of new snow and the strength of the wind, the general avalanche hazard could increase to Moderate in the mountains on Sunday. Up there, skiers and riders could trigger small pockets of newly developed wind slab and loose snow sloughs in steep, avalanche prone terrain. The likelihood of triggering one of these avalanches will decrease with a drop in elevation, and avalanche activity will be unlikely at the lower elevations. In the Togwotee Pass and Southwest Trails forecast zones, a remote chance may remain for high marking snowmobilers to trigger a large slab avalanche above 9,000 feet.