Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

The General Avalanche Hazard is MODERATE. Eighteen inches of new snow since Thursday combined with Southwest winds to create areas of soft slabs on steep, lee slopes. The new snow rests on slick sun crusts on southerly exposures and weak, faceted snow on northerly aspects. The faceted snow resists bonding and will prolong the period when the slabs are more easily triggered. In addition, deep slab instabilities persist. The potential for snowmobilers to trigger full depth avalanches on steep slopes, failing on a foundation of weak, faceted snow continues.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )A moist, Northwest flow will bring light and variable winds with 9500 foot high temperatures in the teens. Skies will be mostly cloudy with occasional light snow.The General Avalanche Hazard in the TETON area is expected to remain CONSIDERABLE at Upper elevations, MODERATE at Mid and LOW at Lower elevations. On Northerly exposures the new snow sits on layers of faceted snow which resist bonding. Time for settling/stabilizing the new snow will be longer than usual. Slides are more likely in areas with good snow accumulations resting on weak faceted surfaces: generally steep, northerly aspects near ridgecrests, under cliff bands and terrain features that encourage building drifts. At Mid and Lower elevations less snow has fallen with little wind, preventing slab development.In the CONTINENTAL DIVIDE/TOGWOTEE PASS area, the General Avalanche Hazard is expected to remain MODERATE. The deep slab instability problem persists on steep avalanche prone slopes. The General Avalanche Hazard in the SOUTHWEST TRAILS/GREYS RIVER area is expected to remain MODERATE. Pockets of soft slab up to 18 inches could be triggered in wind loaded starting zones. The potential persists for snowmobilers to trigger full depth avalanches on steep slopes, failing on a base of weak, faceted snow.