24-25

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>New snow is being drifted into slabs that are easy for a person to trigger today. On wind-loaded slopes </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> could break 1-3 feet deep. On slopes without fresh drifts, avalanches breaking within or below the new snow are possible and could be large enough to bury a person. Since Friday, snow totals are 8-16” equal to 1.0” of snow water equivalent (SWE), and on many slopes this snow fell on weak, sugary facets or surface hoar which could cause slabs to break easily and propagate wide (</span></span></span></span></span></span><strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/33903"><span><span><span><span><span><…;). Snowfall is expected to be heavy today with continued moderate to strong wind, so expect the danger to rise as the likelihood and size of potential avalanches increases through the day. Human triggered avalanches are likely and the avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE near Cooke City, West Yellowstone and Island Park.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Near Big Sky, Hyalite and Taylor Fork got 4-9” of snow since Friday and today’s snowfall will start later this afternoon. The recent snow was drifted into stiffer slabs that are possible for people to trigger on steep slopes, and these </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> will grow larger with more snow later today. Fresh wind slabs were reported yesterday on Buck Ridge (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/33930"><span><span><span><strong><span…;) and Friday before it started snowing on Mt. Blackmore (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/33925"><span><span><span><strong><span…;). Expect slabs to be deeper and wider today.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Weak snow has been reported on the old snow surface across the area (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/33900"><span><span><span><strong><span…;, </span></span></strong></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/33895"><span><span><span><strong><span…;) which could make fresh slabs more unstable. Cracks shooting out from your skis or sled are a sign that fresh drifts are unstable. Avalanches are possible and danger is MODERATE in the Madison and Gallatin Ranges.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>An inch or two of new snow in the Bridger Range will not create much hazard and avalanches remain unlikely for today. There might be some isolated thin drifts from recent wind, and some small fresh drifts could form later today when snow starts. Watch out for these wind slabs in terrain where a small slide could have large consequences, such as above cliffs or rocks.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>If snow starts earlier, or if there is more wind or more snow falls than expected, watch for and avoid larger fresh drifts and consider the potential for dry loose avalanches on long sustained steep slopes. Avalanche conditions are generally safe and the avalanche danger is LOW.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>