Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Yesterdays mornings strong west winds created some isolated pockets of wind slab up to a foot deep. Todays southwest winds and new snow will begin to create new soft slabs on leeward aspects and will cause the avalanche hazard to increase as the day progresses. People who venture into steep terrain with recent deposits of wind blown snow could trigger isolated pockets of surface slab up to a foot deep. Minimal snow cover exists below an elevation of 8,000 feet.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )The next storm system will move into the forecast area on Thursday. New snow accumulations of about an inch are possible overnight. Snowfall will increase during the day and into the night. Accumulations of six to 12 inches are likely by Friday morning. Moderate southwest winds at 20 to 25 with gusts to near 40 miles per hour will accompany the new snowfall. Temperatures will be in the teens and 20s.The general avalanche hazard is expected to increase from LOW to MODERATE at the upper elevations as the new snow and southwest winds combine to create new soft slabs in steep avalanche starting zones.