23-24

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Strong winds are drifting the close to 2 ft of recent snow into big, deep, fresh drifts that will be easily triggered today. Avoid steep slopes with these fresh wind drifts to avoid the most likely setup for triggering a large avalanche. With such strong winds, drifts may have formed in unusual locations, so stay on high alert. If the snow suddenly feels hollow and stiff you’ve found one of these drifts. Shooting cracks are bullseye data that the drift is unstable.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>In addition, if the sun wets the snow surface, wet loose avalanches will quickly become an issue and with so much soft new snow could be substantial enough to be problematic. We’re also not ready to forget about the possibility of triggering an even deeper slide on the early season weak layers.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on wind-loaded slopes and MODERATE on all other slopes.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Winds are much lighter across the rest of the advisory area and there is less new snow. While there are a wide range of concerns today, we don’t expect widespread avalanching.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The number one concern to watch out for is unstable wind drifts. With winds shifting direction over the last couple days these drifts could be found on any aspect. Many drifts will have bonded well, but digging down to confirm they have is a good idea. Especially because, as Alex found yesterday in the Taylor Fork, in some places there is a newly buried weak layer under these drifts (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/31674"><span><span><span><span><span><…;).</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The new snow will easily sluff if the sun and warm temperatures combine to make the surface wet for the first time. Be heads up if you feel the snow start to get sticky and begin to see rollerballs and pinwheels.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The final concern is avalanches breaking on the weak layers at the bottom of the snowpack. Yesterday, skiers on Mt. Blackmore saw a deep avalanche that broke within the last couple days (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/31672"><span><span><span><span><span><… and photos</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). It’s hard to tell from the photos exactly where in the snowpack it broke, but it doesn’t really matter, it’s a good reminder that there is still a possibility of triggering deep slides and that should factor into your terrain choices today.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The avalanche danger is MODERATE near Bozeman, Big Sky, West Yellowstone, and Cooke City.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>