24-25

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Today human-triggered avalanches are likely, especially where strong wind has drifted snow into stiffer or deeper </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>wind slabs</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>, and where more snow falls and is drifted today. On non-wind loaded slopes avalanches are possible, as indicated by widespread avalanche activity yesterday, and due to the existence of buried weak layers.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Yesterday avalanches were triggered by skiers and broke naturally, with reports from all corners of our forecast area (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/avalanche-activity"><span><span><span><stro… activity page</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). Notably, skiers in the Bridgers (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/32452"><span><span><span><strong><span…;), Cooke City (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/32449"><span><span><span><strong><span…;), and Beehive (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/24/storm-instabilities-middle-basin"…;), and a rider between West Yellowstone and Island Park (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/32430"><span><span><span><strong><span…;), triggered avalanches from lower angle terrain below or adjacent to steeper slopes. A large natural avalanche was heard pouring over the cliffs on Saddle Peak in the Bridger Range as heavy snowfall peaked midday.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The slide near West Yellowstone and Island Park broke on surface hoar below the recent snow, while some slides were reported breaking within yesterday’s storm snow. Prior to yesterday’s snowfall weak layers were generally widespread, either on the snow surface or buried 4-12” deep (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/24/buried-surface-hoar-midway-republ… City 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.youtube.com/watch?v=CCd4OIw-4IU&amp;list=PLXu5151nmAvToI_ir… Fork video</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). These weak layers can cause </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>persistent slab avalanches</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> which will be wider, and possible to trigger from lower angle terrain, making them more dangerous and potentially surprising.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>With more snow and moderate winds today, anticipate the size and distribution of potential avalanches to increase through the day. Heavy snowfall, or winds visibly drifting snow, are signs that stability may be getting worse.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Today, cautious route finding is essential. Avoid wind-loaded slopes steeper than 30 degrees. If you travel across or below any steep slopes carefully evaluate the terrain and snowpack for avalanche potential and consequences of a slide.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on wind-loaded slopes and MODERATE on non-wind loaded slopes.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>