Avalanche Danger is High
With the unseasonably warm temperatures and wind, the West Central Avalanche Center has issued a High danger warning for the back country. The advisory will be in effect through Thursday, January 13, due to the Pacific storm that is bringing rain, snow and high winds to western Montana.
The Wednesday morning advisory stated that avalanches may run long distances and travel in avalanche terrain is Not Recommended. The advisory is not for operating ski areas, but is for mainly U.S. Forest Service areas popular with cross-country skiers and snowmobilers.
The heavy wet snow on top of the current snowpack is causing great concern. In the southern Mission Mountains Tuesday, a small human-triggered avalanche was reported and in the southern Bitterroot, small wind slabs were touchy Tuesday. Officials were also concerned about the Rattlesnake avalanche dangers. The combination of heavy snow, wind and warm temperatures are made more dangerous with rainfall. Agai