Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Although several days of melt-freeze cycles have progressed the snowpack to a point where the avalanche danger is lower in the morning, it is still Considerable in the afternoon. Rapidly rising temperatures and direct sunlight will quickly break down surface crusts and weaken the upper portion of the snowpack. This will allow for the possibility of human triggered slab avalanches in very steep terrain. These slabs could be triggered relatively small pockets with depths to two feet in very steep terrain or could be very large, involving entire avalanche paths, if deep persistent weak layers fail. Conservative decision making is essential to avoid these dangers. Wet slides will also become possible on south facing terrain at all elevations and natural activity could occur in shallow very steep terrain at low elevations such as road cuts.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Another day of high pressure and clear skies is forecast for tomorrow. Expect temperature inversions again in the morning that are to start just a few degrees warmer than today. Highs temperatures are also forecast to be slightly warmer. Winds are to be light and variable. In the Tetons the avalanche danger will be Low in the morning and Moderate in the afternoon. As temperatures soften and weaken the upper portion of the snowpack, the possibility of human triggered slab avalanches will develop, particularly in very steep and extreme terrain. Hazards associated with warm sunny days will also increase, including wet slides and a possibility of cornice failure. In the Southwest Trails area, where weak layers remain more of a problem, the danger will increase from Moderate to Considerable. Increasing temperatures will weaken the snowpack, allowing the possibility for human triggered slab avalanches that could be small in isolated terrain features or very large and destructive in steep avalanche paths. Wet slides will also become possible especially in areas where the snowpack is very steep and shallow. On Togwotee Pass, the snowpack is generally weaker with a significant portion of the lower snowpack containing preserved weak, sugary snow. Human triggered avalanches could occur. These could fail to the ground, especially in the afternoon when the warmest temperatures of the week are forecast. The danger rating there will be Considerable above 8000 feet and Moderate below that elevation.