24-25

<p><span><span><span><strong><span><span>The avalanche danger will be rising today</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> with wind and snow, but there’s a lot of uncertainty with how much snow will fall. .</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

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<li><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Wind slab avalanches</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> will be the main hazard today as winds from the E and NE increase by afternoon. These wind slabs will be widespread and easy to trigger. HEADS UP - Expect drifting in odd places because winds don’t typically blow from the east.</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Persistent slab avalanches</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> 2-3 feet deep remain a threat on isolated slopes in the mountains near West Yellowstone (southern Madison and Gallatin Ranges, and Lionhead). This is a tricky problem and has surprised riders on slopes like one at </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/34421"><span><span><span><span><span><… last Friday</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span> and </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/34413"><span><span><span><span><span><… Creek last Thursday</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>.</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Storm slab avalanches</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> in the new snow could become a problem this afternoon on all steep slopes if forecasted snow amounts of 8-12 inches pan out.</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
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<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The avalanche danger will rise to CONSIDERABLE today on wind loaded slopes and MODERATE on non-wind loaded slopes. With the danger rising and multiple avalanche problems, </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><u><span><span>the best plan today will be to step back mostly avoiding avalanche terrain and let the storm play out.</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The avalanche danger today near Bozeman, Big Sky, and Cooke City will be rising as well mainly due to east winds.</span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span> Watch out</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> for places locally heavier snowfall amounts where the danger will be higher. These places could be in our normal forecast zones or more likely areas to the east.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

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<li><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Wind slab avalanches</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> will be the main concern today, and strong winds from the east will cause <strong>drifting in unusual places</strong>. Strong easterly winds had already developed in the Bridgers early this morning and should blow strong in all other places by this afternoon. I bet fresh wind slabs will be easy to trigger but shallow.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Don’t take today’s avalanche situation lightly. </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><em><span>Weird weather (east winds) can cause weird avalanches</span></em></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>, so I’d be stepping back today, generally avoiding avalanche terrain to see what this storm does regardless of how much snow falls. Today the avalanche danger is MODERATE. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>