Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

The general avalanche hazard is CONSIDERABLE. The presence of a single skier or rider will be enough to trigger hard slab avalanches on many slopes today while other slopes may fail even after they have been tracked several times. These slabs may have varying depths up to six feet at higher elevations and two feet at lower elevations. Once initiated these slabs are likely to carry severe consequences to anyone involved. Sunlight and warming may increase the sensitivity of these slabs this afternoon. Conditions are DANGEROUS at this time and extra caution is advised as weekend traffic and sunlight are likely to lure people into aggressive terrain where there is significant risk of triggering these deep instabilities. Yesterday a large slide released naturally during the day in the Snake River Range on Observation Peak.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )High pressure with northwest flow may bring flurries overnight. Saturday looks to be mostly clear with highs reaching the upper teens. Winds are to be westerly with averages between twenty and twenty five miles per hour. The general avalanche hazard will be Considerable. Dangerous conditions exist due to deep slab instabilities. People venturing into avalanche terrain may trigger hard slabs to six foot depths in the unstable snowpack. Slabs could fail by the presence of a single person or after several people have traveled on a slope. Firmer snow surfaces have made detection of this weakness virtually impossible to feel until the slope fails. Once initiated, these slides are likely to carry dire consequences.