New snow pushes avalanche danger higher

The Flathead Avalanche Center on Tuesday warned of significant avalanche danger in the Swan Range, along with more moderate danger in the neighboring mountains including parts of Glacier National Park.

According to the center’s Tuesday morning report, a foot of new snow in the Swan Range and increasing high-elevation winds created very dangerous avalanche conditions above 6,000 feet.

Travel in avalanche terrain should be avoided and both natural and human-triggered avalanches are likely.

Snow conditions between 3,500 and 6,000 feet are slightly less dangerous, but the advisory recommends cautious route-finding and decision-making when traveling in the backcountry. Those same avalanche conditions were reported at all elevations throughout the Whitefish and Flathead ranges as well as in the southern portion of Glacier.

The Montana Department of Transportation reported that by 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, Kalispell received about seven inches of snow overnight, with up to a foot dropping between Columbia Heights and West Glacier.

About 10 inches of snow had fallen at Marias Pass. To the west, Libby had received about eight inches and about three inches had fallen in Eureka.

The National Weather Service forecasts additional snowfall through the rest of the week, with up to four more inches of snow possible through tonight in Kalispell.