Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Yesterday’s rain and mostly above-freezing temperatures saturated the snowpack below 8,000 feet. A light freeze overnight has formed surface crusts over a warm, wet snowpack. As soon as these crusts break down, the wet snow avalanche hazard will become elevated. On steep snow-cover slopes, where the snowpack is unconsolidated, wet slides are possible. At the lower elevations, wet slides could dig down to the ground. Above 9,000 feet, it is possible for backcountry travelers to trigger wind slab avalanches up to 12 inches deep on wind-loaded terrain features. Due to the showery nature of yesterday’s snowfall, above 8,500 feet the new snow accumulation varies. As the day warms and during periods of sunshine, the new snow will become easy to trigger and will likely entrain surface snow. Monitor the day’s warming and the effects of the solar radiation, and at all elevations, avoid steep avalanche-prone terrain with wet snow.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )As the weather system exits to the east, rain and snow showers will taper off and cloud cover will decrease. Tomorrow skies are expected to be partly to mostly cloudy over the mountains. At 10,000 feet, overnight temperatures are forecasted to drop into the 20s and then rise into the upper 30s. Valley lows are expected to be in the upper 20s and then warm to 50. Northwesterly ridgetop winds will be 15 to 25 miles per hour tonight, and then by the morning should back to the west and lessen. Freezing temperatures overnight will form surface crusts and decrease the wet snow avalanche hazard. Depending on the length of the freeze, it will determine how quickly the hazard will increase as the snowpack becomes unconsolidated. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be moderate. Wet snow avalanches will be possible below 8,000 feet and on solar aspects above this elevation. In the Tetons and Southwest Trails forecast areas, backcountry travelers could trigger isolated wind slabs 12 inches deep on wind loaded slopes above 9,000 feet. The likelihood of triggering these slabs will increase as the day warms.