Avalanche danger rises along with snowfall

The Flathead Avalanche Center is advising that avalanche hazards are escalating with snow accumulations that been heavy in some areas over the last couple days.

Although observations and weather station readings vary around the Flathead Valley, some places received more than 20 inches of snow over a 36-hour period. Other locations have received 4 to 6 inches of snow.

While the snow has been light with low snow water equivalency, the accumulations have been large enough to raise the instability in the snowpack.

There were reports from the Swan Range recently about skiers and snowmobilers remotely triggering small soft slab slides within the top  14 to 16 inches of snowpack. 

“There is potential for those small slides to step down deeper into the snowpack creating larger slides,” a press release issued Tuesday states. “Use caution if venturing into or below avalanche terrain and be very cautious in the vicinity of any steep slopes that have received substantial new snow loading.”

The Flathead Avalanche Center will post regular advisories on its website at: http://www.flatheadavalanche.org