19-20

<p>In the last 36 hours, the Madison and Southern Gallatin Ranges, and the mountains around Cooke City received 10-12” of new snow equaling 0.7-0.8” of <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/taxonomy/term/451">snow water equivalent</a> (SWE). Winds died down around midnight, but not before creating drifts of snow. This adds up to dangerous avalanche conditions today. Avalanches will likely be confined to the upper levels of the snowpack sliding on melt-freeze crusts that formed on many elevations and aspects during recent warm weather (<strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_hEBqY67-g&amp;list=PLXu5151nmAvSbcbVf…;). Additionally, a weak layer of feathery surface hoar was buried last week in some areas, but not all (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/20/surface-hoar-near-buck-ridge"><st…;). Focus your stability assessments on the top several feet of the snowpack to determine how new snow is bonding to the old snow surface and to look for a stripe of weak surface hoar in your snowpit wall.</p>

<p>While unlikely, recent human and cornice triggered deep slab avalanches south of Livingston (outside our area) are stark reminders that we still have weak snow near the ground (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/20/large-cornices-lionhead-ridge"><s…;, <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/22491"><strong>photos and details</strong></a>). Stay clear of large cornices completely and minimize your time below them as much as possible (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/20/large-cornices-lionhead-ridge">ph…;).</p>

<p>Today, back off steeper terrain and find some lower angler powder if you see natural avalanches, shooting cracks, wind-drifted snow, or get unstable test results. The danger is CONSIDERABLE on wind-loaded slopes where human triggered avalanches are likely. On non-wind-loaded slopes the danger is MODERATE and human triggered avalanches are possible.</p>

<p>The Bridger Range received 10” of snow (0.9” SWE) with light winds and the Lionhead and Northern Gallatin Ranges got 6-7” of snow (0.4-0.5” SWE) with 15-25 mph wind from the southwest that gusted into the 50s mph (NOTE: We took down the Flanders anemometer this weekend. It was windy there until proven otherwise). At Bridger Bowl yesterday, we found melt-freeze crusts at many elevations and aspects that will act as sliding surfaces for new snow and wind slab avalanches (<strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_hEBqY67-g&amp;list=PLXu5151nmAvSbcbVf…;). The wind built fresh drifts of snow where it is possible to trigger avalanches today (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/20/skier-triggered-wind-slab-wilson-…;). While unlikely, recent human and cornice triggered avalanches south of Livingston are indicators that weak snow still exists at the bottom of our snowpack. (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/20/large-cornices-lionhead-ridge"><s…;, <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/22491"><strong>photos and details</strong></a>). Stay clear of large cornices completely and minimize your time below them as much as possible (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/20/large-cornices-lionhead-ridge">ph…;).</p>

<p>Today, avoid cornices and wind loaded slopes where avalanches are possible, and the danger is MODERATE. On non-wind-loaded slopes larger human triggered avalanches are unlikely, but smaller loose snow avalanches are possible in steeper terrain. The danger is LOW on non-wind-loaded slopes.</p>

<p>We will end daily avalanche forecasts on April 5th and continue with general bulletins every Monday and Friday through April. Over the next couple of weeks, we will take down weather stations and will no longer receive observations from guides and ski patrol. We need help gathering field data. Please send us your observations no matter how brief. You can fill out an <a href="https://mtavalanche.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6653a830e4819c9e…; target="_blank">observation form</a>, email us (<a href="mailto:mtavalanche@gmail.com&quot; target="_blank">mtavalanche@gmail.com</a>), leave a VM at 406-587-6984, or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</p>