21-22

<p>In the mountains near Cooke City 2-3 feet of snow fell since Wednesday equal to 3” of <a href="https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/null/?cid=nrcseprd1314… water equivalent</a> (SWE). Avalanches breaking in the new snow are likely, especially where it has been drifted into stiffer slabs. For the last couple weeks these mountains received steady snowfall with minimal avalanche activity reported. But don’t let your guard down. A snowpack can’t be trusted until it has time to adjust and show how it holds up to each storm. Today, more snow and moderate southwest winds mean avalanche conditions remain dangerous. A person can trigger an avalanche breaking below recent new snow, and possibly deeper in the snowpack which would be large and potentially deadly. Stay off and out from underneath slopes steeper than 30 degrees. The avalanche danger is rated CONSIDERABLE.</p>

<p>Near West Yellowstone and in the southern Madison and southern Gallatin ranges dangerous avalanche conditions exist where moderate to strong southerly wind has drifted snow into fresh slabs. These wind slabs will be unstable today as they grow larger with additional snow and wind. Since Wednesday these mountains received 2 feet of snow (1.8-2.5” SWE). Avalanches can break multiple feet deep below the recent snow, or possibly break larger on deeper buried weak layers. We have seen signs that buried weak layers are potentially unstable (<a href="https://youtu.be/7EEn6f8-4fA"><strong>Lionhead snowpack video</strong></a>, <strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/25196">Lionhead avalanches</a></strong>, <strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/21/teepee-basin-avalanche-1-0">Tepee avalanches</a>,</strong> <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/25253"><strong>Bacon Rind collapses</strong></a>), but right now these instabilities do not appear widespread. This indicates some slopes are stable, but we must remain cautious. Today, as the snowpack receives additional weight of new snow and drifts, avoid wind-loaded slopes steeper than 30 degrees and allow time for the snowpack to be tested by this storm (<a href="https://youtu.be/rdVk9B7UbtQ"><strong>Taylor Fork video</strong></a>). Danger is CONSIDERABLE on wind-loaded slopes and MODERATE on all other slopes.</p>

<p>The Bridger Range, Hyalite and Big Sky received 3-10” of snow (0.3-0.7” SWE) on Friday and can expect a few inches today. Avalanches are possible to trigger where this snow is drifted into stiffer, thicker slabs. Yesterday a natural avalanche broke on a steep, wind-loaded slope on Saddle Peak (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/21/natural-avalanche-saddle-peak-1">…;), and skiers in Beehive saw a recent cornice fall (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/21/cornice-failure-9200-e-beehive">p…;). Watch for signs that drifts of new snow are unstable, such as fresh avalanches or cracks in the snow from your skis. If you see these signs&nbsp;stay off steep, freshly wind-loaded slopes. Right now avalanches breaking deeper in the snowpack are not likely (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MhpDHnH8So"><strong>Saddle Peak video</strong></a>, <a href="https://youtu.be/cf-qqv2Ssjw"><strong>Buck Ridge video</strong></a>, <a href="https://youtu.be/ePMCJs3qAs0"><strong>Beehive video</strong></a>), but we are still keeping an eye out for unstable buried weak layers. Today, the avalanche danger is MODERATE on wind-loaded slopes and LOW on all others.</p>

<p>If you get out, please send us your observations no matter how brief. You can submit them via our <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/add/snow_observation"><strong>website<…;, email (<a href="mailto:mtavalanche@gmail.com"><strong>mtavalanche@gmail.com</strong></a…;), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</p>