23-24

<p>Strong winds are transporting recent snow into thick drifts on wind-loaded slopes where dangerous avalanche conditions exist, and human-triggered avalanches are likely. New snow today will add fuel to this fire. Human-triggered avalanches are possible in non-wind-loaded terrain where the slabs of recent snow are sitting on persistent weak layers.</p>

<p>Mountain winds increased yesterday afternoon and will continue to blow 20-35 mph from the west to southwest throughout the day. Avoid steep slopes where strong winds are transporting 4-9” of snow that fell across much of the advisory area, and up to 16” in the Centennial Range through the weekend. Today’s snow will amplify instabilities. Wind-loaded slopes will be sensitive to human triggers and likely to produce avalanches 1-2+ feet deep, large enough to injure or bury backcountry travelers. A natural avalanche two days ago on West Woody Ridge near Cooke City (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/29828"><strong><span>details and photo</span></strong></a>), and numerous small, human-triggered avalanches three days ago in wind-loaded terrain at Buck Ridge (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0LROtnc7Us&amp;list=PLXu5151nmAvSH326z…;) are recent examples of this type of avalanche problem. Expect to find these drifted slopes at upper and mid-elevations. Natural avalanches, shooting cracks and collapsing are red flags indicating instability.</p>

<p>Whether wind-affected or not, recent snow fell on a snowpack with multiple weak layers that can fail and avalanche. Assessing and discussing these weak layers has been a staple of our field days across the advisory area (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXu5151nmAvSH326zVaU9KXJAPtvkIt-… Field videos</span></strong></a>). Riders, skiers and climbers have submitted many greatly appreciated observations documenting the nearly universal distribution of this season’s weak snowpack structure (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/snow-observations-list"><strong><span>snow and avalanche observations page</span></strong></a>). Knowing that weak layers are likely under your feet, dig down and test for any associated instability before considering travel on terrain steeper than 30 degrees.</p>

<p>The danger is rated CONSIDERABLE on wind-loaded slopes. The danger is rated MODERATE in non-wind-loaded terrain but will increase as today’s snowstorm adds weight and stress to buried weak layers.</p>