Roads icy; avalanche warning issued

Flathead Valley residents woke up to slippery road conditions Thursday morning while the avalanche danger in the mountains is rated as high.

Law enforcement agencies and fire departments were kept busy responding to a host of slide-off accidents on ice-covered roads.

Roads were particularly treacherous in the West Valley, leading West Valley School to close Thursday.

The Flathead Avalanche Center issued a Backcountry Avalanche Warning for the Whitefish Range, Swan Range, Flathead Range and portions of Glacier National Park. 

New snow, above-freezing temperatures and strong winds have created highly unstable conditions, according to the avalanche center. 

The avalanche danger is high on all slopes. Natural and human-triggered avalanches are likely. 

Very dangerous avalanche conditions exist, the center said. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended and avalanche runout zones should be avoided.

For more on the avalanche situation, go to www.flatheadavalanche.org