Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion
<p><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Wind Slabs avalanches</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> are the primary concern today, where the new snow has been drifted into deeper, more cohesive slabs. These drifts may be up to 2 ft deep and could be easily triggered today, but I don’t expect these deeper drifts to be widespread. Be especially on alert in areas where you’re finding more new snow and beneath ridgelines and cornices where the deepest drifts are likely to form. Look and feel for signs of wind effect and avoid wind drifted slopes to avoid most of the avalanche hazard today. Shooting cracks or recent avalanches are the clearest signs of instability. If you see these signs, stay off steep slopes and give the new snow some time to bond. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>In spots where the snow piled up deepest, you might be able to trigger a dangerous </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>on a slope without wind effect, but I mostly expect the new snow to have bonded well to the old snow surface and to be </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://avalanche.org/avalanche-encyclopedia/#right-side-up-storm"><spa… up</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>If the sun comes out this afternoon, the new snow will quickly get wet and make 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>. These slides won’t generally be very deep, but could pick up speed and run far on firm crusts that formed over the last week. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Near West Yellowstone, </span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>there is a weak layer of facets buried 2-3 ft deep that has been dormant. These probably won’t be an issue today, but we shouldn’t forget about them as they could wake up in the coming days as more new snow stacks up. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The avalanche danger is MODERATE today across the advisory area.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
