Cooke City

Five to 8 inches of new snow in the last 24 hours are sitting on a generally stable snowpack, and avalanches will be isolated to the snow that fell since yesterday afternoon. Avalanches breaking up to one foot deep within slabs of wind-drifted snow in typical and predictable locations below cornices and near ridgelines are the primary concern. Enjoy the new snow on wind-sheltered slopes after evaluating for instability at the new-old-snow interface and considering the terrain's consequences. Indicators such as shooting cracks and fresh avalanches will offer clues about areas to avoid.

Today’s new snow is sitting on a generally stable snowpack, and avalanches will be isolated to the snow that fell since yesterday afternoon.

In the areas with the most new snow, Cooke City, the Bridger and Northern Gallatin Ranges (4-8”), avalanches breaking within slabs of wind-drifted snow are the primary problem. Winds are light and from a common west and southwest direction throughout most of the forecast area, with wind loading occurring in typical and predictable locations below cornices and near ridgelines. The exception to this is the Bridger Range, where winds are from the east, the opposite of the prevailing direction, so expect loading patterns to be abnormal, with some of the often-loaded ridge terrain stripped of new snow.

Wind slab avalanches could break up to one foot deep. While an avalanche is unlikely to be large enough to bury a skier or rider on an open slope with a clean runout, it could be large enough to cause injury in tight, technical, or extreme terrain, or to bury a skier or rider in the presence of terrain traps.

Enjoy the new snow on wind-sheltered slopes after evaluating for instability at the new-old-snow interface and considering the terrain's consequences. Indicators such as shooting cracks and fresh avalanches will offer clues about areas to avoid (video). Give very steep and extreme terrain time to stabilize.

The danger is MODERATE in the Bridger, Northern Gallatin, and Cooke City areas.

The Madison and Southern Gallatin Ranges, Lionhead, and Island Park areas experienced cold temperatures, which stabilized the wet-snow avalanche hazard, and received 1-3 inches of new snow. While you may encounter very thin, wind slab avalanches and superficial wet loose avalanches within the new snow, avalanches large enough to cause injury or burial are unlikely, and the danger is LOW.

Get out and enjoy the new snow this week while remembering the fundamentals of avalanche safety. Carry a beacon, shovel, and probe. Travel with a partner(s) and expose only one person at a time to slopes steep enough to slide, while others watch from a safe location. Daytime snowfall exceeding forecast amounts will increase the avalanche danger.

NOTE: Bridger Bowl is closed for the season and open for uphill travel. Ski patrol is no longer performing avalanche mitigation or performing mountain rescue. Be prepared to help others and call 911 for assistance (video).