Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

The avalanche hazard will start at Low this morning and increase in the afternoon as temperatures in the mountains rise above freezing. This morning, while the hazard remains Low, it is still possible for skiers and riders to trigger small isolated pockets of wind slab avalanches on steep slopes above 9,000 feet. Then in the afternoon, it will be possible for a person to trigger wet snow avalanches on steep slopes, and wet slides could also occur naturally on steep rocky terrain in direct sunlight. While these slides will start small, probably less than a foot in-depth, the debris could become entraining and destructive. Backcountry travelers should evaluate terrain as even small slides could have dangerous outcomes if triggered above terrain traps, cliffs, or on steep sustained slopes.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Clear skies will continue into tomorrow. Overnight temperatures are expected to drop into the low teens and then warm above freezing at 10,000 feet by tomorrow afternoon. Winds will back from the west to the southwest by morning and are expected to be 5 to 15 miles per hour. In all the forecast areas, except above 9,000 feet at Togwotee Pass, the avalanche hazard will be Low in the morning, and then, the wet snow hazard will increase to Moderate in the afternoon. In the morning, skiers and riders could encounter small isolated pockets of dry snow slabs at the upper elevations on steep wind-loaded terrain features. As surface crusts melt and dry snow becomes wet, it will be possible for a person to trigger a wet snow avalanche on steep avalanche terrain. Wet loose slides could also occur naturally on steep solar aspects in direct sunlight. These slides will likely be small but could have dangerous outcomes if triggered above terrain traps, cliffs, or on sustained steep slopes.On Togwotee Pass above 9,000 feet, the avalanche hazard will start at Moderate. There, it is possible for a person to trigger a slab avalanche one to two feet deep on buried persistent weak layers. On solar aspects, this dry snow avalanche hazard could increase as the day warms. Previous tracks are not a sign of stability, and backcountry travelers should evaluate the snowpack before committing to avalanche terrain.