24-25

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Human-triggered avalanches are likely, especially where snow that fell over the last week is drifted into thicker slabs. Avalanches could break within the recent snow or on persistent weak layers buried 1-3 feet deep below the last week’s snow.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Wind slab avalanches</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> will be easy to trigger where recent snow has been drifted by west and south winds into thicker slabs.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Persistent slab avalanches</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> are a primary concern as they could break hundreds of feet wide and 1-3 feet deep, or deeper on wind-loaded slopes. Weak, sugary layers of facets and surface hoar are buried 1-3 feet deep below the last week’s snow. These weak layers appear to be most widespread near West Yellowstone and the southern Madison and Gallatin ranges, but have been found elsewhere (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/34043"><span><span><span><strong><span…. Ellis observation</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). You should keep them in mind and be on the lookout no matter where you travel in the forecast area. Yesterday we rode north of Cooke City and did not see clear evidence that these weak layers are a widespread concern, but the snowpack needs more time to adjust to all the recent snow before we have confidence to rule out the potential for larger slides (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/34067"><span><span><span><strong><span…;).</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Storm slab avalanches</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> can break on density changes within the recent snow. These instabilities should stabilize within a couple days, but the cold temperatures could slow that process. We have had reports of avalanches breaking within the new snow throughout the week (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/25/small-avalanche-near-round-lake">… from Cooke City yesterday</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/34058"><span><span><span><strong><span… observation</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/34051"><span><span><span><strong><span… observation</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). Yesterday near Cooke City we found lower density layers of recent snow preserved below harder slabs. Be aware that avalanches could break within the recent snow even where it is not drifted (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://youtu.be/Jvuidj51Djw"><span><span><span><strong><span><u><span>…;).&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>At lower elevations around the valleys snow depths are notably deep, particularly on some steep slopes that don’t often hold much snow. Yesterday Dave noted this abundance of snow in Sourdough canyon, and he wrote a great </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/34062"><span><span><span><span><span><… with avalanche concerns and travel advice to keep in mind for these areas that don’t typically have as much snow and avalanche potential</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Cautious route-finding and careful snowpack evaluation are essential today. Either avoid slopes steeper than 30 degrees or evaluate the snowpack for recent drifting and buried weak layers before getting onto those steeper slopes. Watch for cracking across the snow surface as a sign the recent snow or wind drifts could avalanche on steeper slopes. Dig down a few feet to assess for buried weak layers. Choose smaller slopes to minimize the size of potential avalanches, and slopes without hazards like trees or cliffs that make any size slide more dangerous.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>