Cooke City

Avalanches conditions remain dangerous. Don't let your guard down. People continue to trigger, be caught in, and buried by large Persistent Slab avalanches. It likely won't be too long before it's reasonable to get back onto steep slopes, but we're not there yet. For today, continue to avoid riding or directly beneath all slopes steeper than 30 degrees. 

Avalanche conditions remain dangerous around Island Park, West Yellowstone and Cooke City. Large Persistent Slab avalanches continue to be triggered on weak layers buried beneath the snow that has fallen in February (most recently in Targhee Creek, but our avalanche log continues to grow as people report more avalanches that broke during the latest storm). Strong winds over the last couple days have drifted snow onto many slopes, continuing to load the weak layers, and this is where you’re most likely to trigger a slide. With such strong winds recently it’ll be hard to find a completely wind sheltered slope, but even on those, the conditions for Persistent Slab avalanches exist and they are still possible (Lionhead video). Continue to avoid all steep slopes in these areas where the avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE.

In the Northern Madison and Northern Gallatin Ranges, avalanches breaking in wind drifts are the primary concern. These could either break as Wind Slab avalanches within the recently drifted snow or Persistent Slab avalanches on the weak layers beneath. As with further south, winds have been very strong over the last couple days, so drifts are possible at all elevations, but they’ll be most widespread at higher elevations. Persistent Slab avalanches remain possible to trigger on wind sheltered slopes, breaking on the widespread weak layers in the top two feet of the snowpack. Dig down to check those layers before getting onto any steep slopes and keep your eyes out for cracking wind drifts as a sure sign of unstable conditions. The avalanche danger is MODERATE in these areas.

The Bridger Range has seen the least recent snowfall, so avalanche concerns are isolated to areas with thicker wind drifts, primarily at higher elevations (Bridgers video). The avalanche danger is MODERATE at these upper elevations. Consider avoiding thicker wind drifts and be mindful of the consequences of even a small slide if you’re riding above rocks or cliffs.

WET SNOW

With temperatures a bit warmer than yesterday, sunny skies, and winds moderating, the snow surface may get wet on sunny slopes as the day progresses, particularly at lower elevations. I don’t expect Loose Wet avalanches to be much of a hazard, but they are worth keeping an eye out for, just in case.