23-24

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Cloud cover will hinder avalanche activity from the warm temperatures. However, if the sun comes out, small and loose wet snow slides, roller balls and pinwheels will appear, but won’t pose a danger.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The overarching concern is weak snow plaguing our forecast area. Grains of unbonded sugary snow, aka. facets and depth hoar, can avalanche on slopes capped with a wind drift. Yesterday, after Ian and I put up the </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/weather/stations/taylor-fork"><span><span><… Fork weather station</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><strong><span><span>, </span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>we dug a snowpit and found layers of weak facets and talked about how a stiff wind slab would make unstable conditions (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://youtu.be/YSYlarbuzJQ"><span><span><span><strong><span><u><span>…;). In Island Park, a rider tested that theory when he got a slope to crack and move a couple inches, but not avalanche.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Signs of instability are decreasing, but the occasional report reminds us that all is not well. It remains possible to trigger avalanches. Many slopes are stable, but some are not. Weak snow blankets our forecast area and recent wind-loading at mid-mountain and ridgetops will create instability. Pay attention to changing surface conditions, back off if you get collapsing or cracking, and do a stability test before entering avalanche terrain.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>For today, the avalanche danger is rated MODERATE on all slopes in our forecast area.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>