23-24

<p>Our weeklong dry spell is over, and it is starting to snow. What was dry ground at lower elevations transitions to 1-2+ feet of snow as the elevation increases. The avalanche danger will rise through the weekend as snow falls. Higher precipitation amounts in Cooke City, West Yellowstone and Island Park will spike the avalanche danger upwards. Lower snow totals farther north in the advisory area will increase the danger but not as significantly.</p>

<p>The snow that was on the ground before this weekend is generally weak. Alex was in the Northern Madison Range yesterday (Thursday) digging into about a foot of sugary, faceted snow (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khUlf_rurog"><strong><span>video</span>…;), mirroring what Ian found on Sawtelle Peak two weeks ago (<a href="https://mtavalanche.com/node/29287"><strong><span>observation</span></s…;) and what skiers recently observed near Cooke City (<a href="https://mtavalanche.com/node/29313"><strong><span>Observation 1</span></strong></a><strong>, </strong><a href="https://mtavalanche.com/node/29311"><strong><span>2</span></strong></a&…;). Assume that snow on the ground before this weekend is a persistent weak layer that will avalanche when loaded and will stabilize slowly.</p>

<p>In addition to loading a thin snowpack largely consisting of weak, sugary facets for the first time this season, temperatures will warm as the weekend progresses, trapping light fluffy powder below heavier snow. Strong winds on Saturday will load new snow onto slopes in thick drifts.</p>

<p>Snowfall on weak layers, the “upside down snowstorm” (heavier snow over lighter snow) and strong winds will all create instability. Seek out lower-angle terrain in areas where new snow adds up to more than a few inches because our uncertainty levels are high as we get to know this season’s snowpack. Signs such as recent avalanches, collapses or whumphing and shooting cracks show you that the snowpack is ready to slide. The subsequent avalanches will not care that you are excited that it’s finally snowing.</p>

<p>If you venture out, please fill an <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/add/snow_obs"><strong><span>observation form</span></strong></a>. It does not need to be technical. Did you see any avalanches? How much snow is on the ground? Was the wind moving snow? Simple observations are incredibly valuable. You can also contact us via email (<a href="mailto:mtavalanche@gmail.com"><strong><span>mtavalanche@gmail.com</span…;), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</p>

<p>What was dry ground at lower elevations transitions to 1-2+ feet of snow as the elevation increases. The avalanche danger will rise through the weekend as around a foot of snow falls. Seek out lower-angle terrain where new snow adds up to more than a few inches. On November 15, Ian saw that the 20” of snow at our Sawtelle Weather Station had weakened into sugary facets. It has not improved since then (<a href="https://mtavalanche.com/node/29287"><strong><span>observation and photos</span></strong></a>). Snowfall on weak layers, warming temperatures through the weekend and strong winds will all increase the danger. Signs such as recent avalanches, collapses or whumphing and shooting cracks show you that the snowpack is ready to slide.</p>

<p>Yesterday (Thursday), I met up with the Fugawee Snowmobile Club, Idaho Parks and Recreation and Klim as the group installed new beacon checkers at the trailheads in Island Park. It was a beautiful day and we appreciate everyone’s effort to make this happen (<a href="https://mtavalanche.com/images/23/island-park-beacon-checkers-1-0"><str… 1</span></strong></a><strong>, </strong><a href="https://mtavalanche.com/images/23/island-park-beacon-checkers-3"><stron…;, </strong><a href="https://mtavalanche.com/images/23/island-park-beacon-checkers-5"><stron…;)!</p>