HUNGRY HORSE - The Flathead Avalanche Center in Hungry Horse has issued a backcountry avalanche warning for parts of Northwest Montana.
The Center cautions that heavy snowfall and powerful winds have created unstable slabs of new and drifted snow, with "large and very large avalanches" likely.
The warning is in effect on and below steep slopes at upper elevations in the Swan Mountain Range, Flathead Mountain Range, as well as and parts of Glacier National Park.
"Very dangerous avalanche conditions" exist and "travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended," the Center cautions.
The Backcountry Avalanche Warning is in effect until 7 a.m. on Tuesday.
Avalanches may run long distances and can run into mature forests, valley floors, or flat terrain.
Flathead Avalanche Center Forecaster Cameron Johnson said your room for error shrinks significantly in the backcountry when arctic air and extreme wind chills accompany heavy snow,
“When these arctic air events happen, like a lot of times the precipitation kind of stalls out once it kind of makes its way into our region, however when it’s really cold, there’s just not much room for equipment failure or a small injury can have a lot higher consequence when it’s -30 wind chill," added Johnson.
Click here to view the latest update from the Flathead Avalanche Center.
