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Urban Avalanche Warning continues for Mount Jumbo

Posted at 7:44 PM, Mar 02, 2019
and last updated 2019-03-03 19:48:09-05

MISSOULA – The Urban Avalanche Warning remains in effect as dangerous avalanche conditions continue on Mount Jumbo.

City of Missoula officials note that the snowpack is 4′ to 5′ deep in places and unstable.

Avalanche experts also report seeing fresh ski tracks from the past 24 hours. It is imperative that people stay off the mountain.

Western Montana Avalanche Center Director Travis Craft and his crew found new snow loaded into gullies and potential avalanche start zones, with strong east winds continuing on the ridge.

They found some small natural slides that had occurred in the past 24 hours that were one foot deep and ran into the valley floor in back yards on Lilac Avenue and Holly Street, according to a news release.

Property owners at the base of the mountain from Missoula Avenue to Elm Street should stay out of their back yards and call 911 if they see snow slides. Residents should also call 911 immediately if they see human activity on Mount Jumbo.

The avalanche conditions should not worsen without a change in the weather, Craft advised. The forecast is for frigid temperatures but little to no new snow.

If conditions do not change, city officials say advisory will stay up.