24-25

<p><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Wind Slabs avalanches</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> are the primary concern today, where the new snow has been drifted into deeper, more cohesive slabs. These drifts may be up to 2 ft deep and could be easily triggered today, but I don’t expect these deeper drifts to be widespread. Be especially on alert in areas where you’re finding more new snow and beneath ridgelines and cornices where the deepest drifts are likely to form. Look and feel for signs of wind effect and avoid wind drifted slopes to avoid most of the avalanche hazard today. Shooting cracks or recent avalanches are the clearest signs of instability. If you see these signs, stay off steep slopes and give the new snow some time to bond.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>In spots where the snow piled up deepest, you might be able to trigger a dangerous </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Storm Slab avalanche </span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>on a slope without wind effect, but I mostly expect the new snow to have bonded well to the old snow surface and to be </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://avalanche.org/avalanche-encyclopedia/#right-side-up-storm"><spa… up</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>If the sun comes out this afternoon, the new snow will quickly get wet and make for </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Wet Loose avalanches</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>. These slides won’t generally be very deep, but could pick up speed and run far on firm crusts that formed over the last week.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Near West Yellowstone, </span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>there is a weak layer of facets buried 2-3 ft deep that has been dormant. These probably won’t be an issue today, but we shouldn’t forget about them as they could wake up in the coming days as more new snow stacks up.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The avalanche danger is MODERATE today across the advisory area.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Strong winds from the south will whip around the new snow forming fresh </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> that will be easy to trigger. They will start small and easily become a foot deep by midday near ridgelines exposed to the wind.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The new snow will be mostly</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://avalanche.org/avalanche-encyclopedia/#right-side-up-storm"><spa…; right-side up</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span> but periods of heavier snowfall may create subtle layers in the new snow causing soft </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 sheltered from the wind. </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><u><span><span>Clues</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> that storm slabs are becoming a problem include: snow amounts approaching a foot, heavy snowfall rates, and cracking in the new snow.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Near West Yellowstone</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> a weak layer of facets buried 2-3 ft deep has been dormant. These probably won’t be an issue today, but could wake up in coming days and cause persistent slab avalanches as new snow stacks up. The last of these slides occurred about two weeks ago.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Today with wind and periods of heavy snow the danger will be rising to CONSIDERABLE on wind loaded slopes. The danger on non-wind loaded slopes will rise to MODERATE.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>In areas closer to Big Sky, snow has already started, and strong south winds will be forming shallow </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>. In areas further north, not much snow may fall until after winds start dying down and there will be minimal wind slab formation.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Today the avalanche danger is MODERATE. Look for and avoid fresh wind slabs and drifts.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>It’s getting harder to find soft snow as a result of warm temperatures and very strong winds. It’s also unlikely to trigger an avalanche. While skiing in the </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/34568"><span><span><span><span><span><… yesterday</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, my partner and I found very hard drifts and wind slabs that seemed welded into place. However, we skied around them because I don’t like messing with avalanches.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Wind slabs</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> will be the main thing to steer clear of today. Despite recent very strong winds, they have moved minimal snow as Ian found in the </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/34571"><span><span><span><span><span><… Bridgers yesterday</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>. Seek out soft snow on shady slopes untouched by wind for the safest and best riding conditions.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Near West Yellowstone, a </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>persistent slab </span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>avalanche problem is mostly dormant. However the weak layer of facets 2-3 feet deep may start to wake up sometime in the near future if enough snow piles up.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Today the avalanche danger is LOW.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>