24-25

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>A person can easily trigger avalanches that involve the recent snow. These will be largest and most likely where the snow has drifted into thicker slabs. On non-wind-loaded slopes large avalanches are possible, and more likely in areas with the most snow.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Since Friday the mountains near Bozeman and Big Sky received up to two feet of snow equal to 1.0-2.2” of snow water equivalent (SWE) with the highest amounts in the northern Bridgers. The last few days we received reports of </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>wind slab avalanches </span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>(</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/25/intentionally-triggered-soft-slab…;) where the snow had been drifted, and </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>storm slab avalanches</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> on slopes that were less wind-loaded (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/34210"><span><span><span><strong><span…;, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/25/snowmobile-triggered-avalanche-bu…;). </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Loose dry avalanches</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> are also likely and will be largest where the most snow fell.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Check out Dave’s </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/hf1nmcVcC_s"><span><span><span><strong><… from Beehive</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span> yesterday for current insight on these avalanche problems. Expect these problems to grow in size and likelihood as more snow falls today.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Plan to avoid wind-loaded slopes steeper than 30 degrees, and before crossing or riding other steep slopes carefully assess the stability of recent snow. Watch for cracking across the snow surface or recent avalanches as signs that the new snow is unstable. Consider smaller slopes that are sheltered from the wind and with minimal terrain traps like thick trees or cliffs, or avoid steep slopes altogether. The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Near West Yellowstone, Island Park, and Cooke City received 1-1.5 feet of snow equal to 1.2-1.4” SWE since Friday. Similar to the northern parts of our forecast area, the primary concern is </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>wind slab avalanches</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> on slopes where the snow was drifted into thicker or stiffer slabs, and on non-wind-loaded slopes </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>storm slab avalanches</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> are possible. Over the weekend we received reports of these types of avalanches in Cooke City (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://mtavalanche.com/node/34189"><span><span><span><strong><span><u>… and observation 1</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/34215"><span><span><span><strong><span… 2</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). With the snow totals continuing to add up today, expect these types of avalanches to be larger and more widespread.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>In these southern parts of our forecast area <strong>p</strong></span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>ersistent slab avalanches</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> could break on weak layers buried 2-3 feet deep. On Thursday in Taylor Fork Dave and I saw four avalanches that broke 1-2 feet deep on layers of sugary facets and feathery surface hoar. Yesterday we received a report from Lionhead of a rider triggered wind slab avalanche that triggered a deeper persistent slab avalanche (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/34208"><span><span><span><strong><span…;). Avalanche activity on these layers hasn’t been widespread, but they should not be ignored (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/34156"><span><span><span><strong><span… photo</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/25/cornice-triggered-avalanche-miner… City photo</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>,</span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span> </span></span></strong></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZ3k35z5Ej8&amp;embeds_referring_euri=h… Fork video</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). As the new snow adds up the chance of triggering a larger persistent slab avalanche is increasing.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Avoid steep wind-loaded slopes, and before committing to any steep slope carefully assess the stability of recent snow and potential for buried weak layers. Avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on wind-loaded slopes and MODERATE on all others.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>