The local avalanche hazard conditions are considerable and could increase through Wednesday, according to an advisory released this morning by the Flathead Avalanche Center.
The arrival of significant snowfall in the past 48 hours and high winds has created weak surface conditions at mid and upper elevations in the Flathead Valley. A cold front is predicted to arrive late Wednesday with single-digit temperatures and continued precipitation is also being forecasted. The advisory warns that human-caused avalanches are likely and conditions are dangerous.
“Natural avalanche activity is possible so avoid playing beneath steep opens. Backcountry users will need to avoid steep open terrain especially where wind loaded until conditions settle again,” the advisory reads. “Even steep sheltered terrain is suspect with the recent rain crust and the underlying buried surface hoar interface. Seek out sheltered low angled terrain to perform pit investigations and progress cautiously from there.”
Read the entire advisory here.