24-25

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Near Bozeman, Big Sky and Cooke City, where more new snow has fallen, avalanches</span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span> </span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>involving the new snow are possible and could slide as </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>wind slab avalanches</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> or </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>loose snow avalanches</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>. Wind has been fairly minimal, but slopes where the new snow has been drifted or stiffened by the wind are more likely to avalanche.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>If you plan to travel on steep slopes, assess the stability of the new snow and monitor how it changes throughout the day. Push on small test slopes with clean runout zones to see how the snow reacts. As you travel watch for cracking across the surface as a sign you could trigger slab avalanches, and look for snow being drifted as a sign slabs are growing and possibly becoming more reactive.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Warm temperatures and any sun will make the new snow moist and more cohesive and could cause loose snow or </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>storm slab avalanche</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>s to break larger and be easier to trigger. Have a plan to find lower angle terrain or slopes with colder snow if you feel the snow get heavy or moist.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Avalanche danger is MODERATE near Bozeman, Big Sky and Cooke City.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Aside from instability involving the new snow, the snowpack is generally stable. Near Island Park and West Yellowstone, where less new snow has fallen, large avalanches are unlikely. Small </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>wind slab</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> or </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> in isolated areas are something to keep in mind. These would only be an issue in extreme terrain where being knocked over would have big consequences, like above cliffs or on long, firm steep slopes. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The avalanche danger is LOW near West Yellowstone and Island Park.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Today is a transition day, between the warmth and mostly dry weather of the last week and the snowy pattern that is setting up for the coming week. </span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>This transition leaves us in a bit of a lull today, with large avalanches unlikely and </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>generally safe conditions</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>With temperatures below freezing this morning and only expected to get a little above freezing today, the wet snow concerns we’ve been dealing with all week should be minimal. Some areas might not have a stout crust at the surface this morning and in others it might break down today, so do look 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’re sinking more than ankle deep into wet snow. Treed, low elevation slopes facing the southern half of a compass are where you’re most likely to encounter this lingering wet snow.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>There is a little bit of new snow this morning and a bit more may fall today, but it won’t be enough to make for much avalanche hazard. There may be some thin wind drifts that could break as small </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Wind Slab avalanches</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>, but at most, these would only be an issue in extreme terrain where losing your footing or getting pushed a few feet off course would have big consequences.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The avalanche danger is LOW today.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Conditions will be changing with the new snow over the coming days, so make sure to check the again for the latest updates before heading out.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>