24-25

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Since Friday, near Cooke City, West Yellowstone and Island Park got 14-24” of snow equal to 1.8-2.2” snow water equivalent (SWE) with 3.4” SWE at Black Bear SNOTEL near Island Park. Strong southwest winds have been drifting this snow into thicker slabs, and on many slopes the prior snow surface is a weak layer of sugary snow (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/33903"><span><span><span><strong><span…;). We received reports of a few small wind slab avalanches over the weekend near Cooke City, but visibility was very limited (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/avalanche-activity"><span><span><span><stro… log</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><strong>Persistent slab avalanches</strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>&nbsp;will break wide on weak layers buried below the new snow, especially on wind-loaded slopes. There is a chance a slide could break 4-6 feet or deeper on weak layers at the bottom of the snowpack. Steady snowfall and strong wind will continue today making large to very large human-triggered and natural avalanches likely. Avoid travel on and underneath slopes steeper than 30 degrees. The avalanche danger is HIGH on all slopes.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Near Big Sky, Hyalite and Taylor Fork got 10-17” of snow equal to 1.0-1.3” of SWE since Friday. This snow was drifted into slabs that will be easy for a person to trigger today. Yesterday Mark and I rode into Taylor Fork and saw cracks shooting 10-50 feet out from our sleds, and all of our stability tests propagated with little force on weak layers below the new snow (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/33944"><span><span><span><strong><span… and 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.youtube.com/watch?v=y7Nm5dbbBqQ"><span><span><span><strong>…;

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>On wind-loaded slopes human-triggered </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> are likely. These avalanches could break wide, be triggered from flatter terrain connected to steep slopes, and remain easy to trigger for multiple days. Where the snow is not drifted, avalanches are still possible. Avoid steep, wind-loaded slopes, and before travelling on any steep slope carefully assess the stability of the new snow. Danger is CONSIDERABLE on wind-loaded slopes and MODERATE on other slopes in the Madison and Gallatin Ranges.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The Bridger Range got 8” of snow equal to 0.7” SWE since Friday and a few more inches will fall today. The new snow is being drifted into thicker slabs that make </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> possible to trigger today.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The Bridgers had more wind and warm temperatures compared to other parts of our area during the recent high pressure which interrupted weak layer formation. Weak layers still probably formed on some slopes, just not as widespread as the rest of the forecast area.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>If you plan to travel on slopes steeper than 30 degrees watch out for fresh drifts, and dig down below the new snow and drifts to assess for potential instability. If you see cracking across the snow surface, assume fresh drifts will slide on steeper slopes. Also stay alert for </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>dry-loose avalanches</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> on sustained steep slopes, especially where they could push you over a cliff or into rocks or trees. Human-triggered avalanches are possible and avalanche danger is MODERATE in the Bridger Range.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>