19-20

<p>Yesterday’s strong to extreme southwest winds scoured snow from slopes and deposited snow into hard drifts on other slopes. Today these drifts are possible to trigger and avalanches can break deeper and wider on sugary weak layers near the base of the snowpack (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/20/snowpit-crown-human-triggered-ava…;).</p>

<p>Yesterday there were natural and human triggered avalanches that show similar avalanches are possible today. In the southern Madison Range on Skyline Ridge a snowmobiler triggered a deep and wide avalanche that sympathetically triggered two other large slides, the rider was not caught (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/21826">details and photo</a></strong>). On Cedar Mountain near Big Sky a deep natural avalanche was triggered by a cornice (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/21822">details and photo</a></strong>). And, near Cooke City a snowmobiler triggered a small wind slab on Crown Butte (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/21827">details</a></strong&gt;). To avoid similar slides avoid wind loaded slopes, identifiable by wavy textures on the snow surface, overhanging cornices or rounded pillows of snow (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/20/human-triggered-wind-slab-lulu">p…;). On Thursday I triggered (remotely from low angle terrain above) a fresh wind slab near Lulu Pass outside Cooke City which is similar to fresh slabs that might form today (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/21803">details and media</a></strong>).</p>

<p>Today snowfall could be heavy and avalanche danger will increase. As new snow piles deeper, fresh slabs and dry loose avalanches are possible to trigger. These slides will be larger and easier to trigger this afternoon. Take a step back from objectives that require travel through avalanche terrain. Anticipate decreasing stability, and minimize exposure and commitment to steep slopes.</p>

<p>Today avalanches are possible to trigger and the avalanche danger is rated MODERATE. Stability will decrease through the day as new snow forms slabs and adds weight to buried weak layers. Dangerous avalanche conditions could develop by this afternoon.</p>

<p>If you get out, please send us your observations no matter how brief. You can fill out an&nbsp;<u><strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/add/snow_observation">observation form</a></strong></u>, email us (<u><strong><a href="mailto:mtavalanche@gmail.com">mtavalanche@gmail.com</a></strong></u&gt;), leave a VM at 406-587-6984, or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</p>