24-25

<p><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Wind Slab avalanches</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> on wind loaded slopes are the primary concern today. A foot of new snow and perfect drifting winds means these drifts of new snow could easily be 2-4 ft deep.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The new snow is piling up on a variety of snow surfaces - some weak, some not - so check to see how well the new snow has bonded to the old snow surface before getting onto slopes steeper than 30 degrees (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zbdABx9LzE"><span><span><span><strong>…;). Conditions could be quite touchy on slopes with weak snow underneath the fresh drifts.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The low density snow is unlikely to form much of a slab without wind effect, but remarkably soft slabs can break if they’re sitting on surface hoar (a weak layer which we’ve had reports of&nbsp; - </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/33903"><span><span><span><span><span><…;), so don’t entirely let your guard down on non-windloaded slopes.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Human triggered avalanches are likely and the avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on wind-loaded slopes. On all other slopes, the avalanche danger is MODERATE.</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>are also the primary concern in the Madison and Gallatin Ranges, Lionhead area, and mountains around Island Park. Fresh wind slabs were already breaking yesterday, before it started snowing (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/33925"><span><span><span><strong><span…. Blackmore observation</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). Expect more of the same today, but they could be both deeper and wider. The deeper the drifts of new snow, the more dangerous conditions will be. A short, intense period of snowfall this afternoon may rapidly form new, unstable drifts.</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><span><span><…;, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/33895"><span><span><span><span><span><…;). High winds may have blown away some of that weak snow before the new snow started falling, but probably not all of it. So if you find a wind drift more than around 6” deep, check to see what it’s sitting on top of. Cracks shooting out in front of you are bullseye data that you’ve found an unstable drift.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Human triggered avalanches are possible and the avalanche danger is MODERATE.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>A dusting of new snow in the Bridger Range won’t do much to increase the hazard today. Watch out for thin drifts of new snow if you’re riding in terrain where even a small slide would have big consequences (above rocks, cliffs, etc.) and stick with good travel practices (wearing rescue gear, having a partner watching from a safe spot) in case you get unlucky and manage to trigger a bigger slide in an older winddrift.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Conditions are generally safe and the avalanche danger is LOW.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Avalanche conditions are generally safe today. Still, there are some things to watch out for.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The first thing to watch out for is old wind drifts. Mostly these will be well bonded after a week of warm temperatures, but be alert in case you find someplace where they aren’t. A report yesterday of a recent </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Wind Slab avalanche</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> on Woodward Mtn. that broke 1-2 ft deep and 250 ft wide shows that we can’t totally write off the possibility of triggering one of these slides (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/33914"><span><span><span><span><span><…;).</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Wet snow concerns will be minimal today with generally a good refreeze overnight and clouds keeping melting in check today. But, there are places where the air temperatures stayed above freezing overnight so watch out 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> if you find a snowpack that hasn’t entirely refrozen (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/25/point-release-avalanche-south-slo… of Wet Looses yesterday</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>Snowfall will begin this afternoon. We don’t expect much to accumulate before nightfall, but if it comes in early and heavier than expected - watch out for newly forming drifts. The new snow will fall onto a variety of old snow surfaces, including some very weak snow, so even thin drifts may be quite reactive (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://youtu.be/SqfcVtQ4uxY?feature=shared"><span><span><span><span><s… video</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>With snow and strong winds expected through the weekend and into next week, expect the avalanche danger to rise. The more it snows and blows, the more rapidly the danger will rise.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>For today, the avalanche danger is LOW.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>