Avalanche Warnings Issued for Southern Montana Ranges Following Heavy Snowfall

Takeaways:

• The Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center has issued avalanche warnings for the Southern Madison, Southern Gallatin, and Cooke City areas due to heavy snowfall.

• More than ten inches of snow in the last 24 hours have increased the risk of natural and human-triggered avalanches on all slopes in the mentioned regions.

• Avalanche danger is rated as considerable for the mountains around Bozeman, Big Sky, and Island Park, with snow totals between 5 to 8 inches, exacerbated by windblown snow and weak underlying layers.

• The weight of the new snow on top of an already unstable snowpack is the primary cause of the heightened avalanche risk.

• Backcountry visitors are advised to be cautious, choose safe routes, and stick to terrain with an angle of less than 30 degrees to reduce the risk of triggering an avalanche.

References:

[1] Heavy snow on top weak snowpack leads to avalanche warnings. Link

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