Avalanche hazard escalating with new snowfall

The Flathead Avalanche Center warns backcountry skiers, snowboarders, snowshoers and snowmobilers that new snow over the past 24 to 36 hours has increased avalanche hazards in area mountains.

Although observations and weather station readings vary across the area, some locations have received more than 20 inches of snow over the past 36 hours, the center reports. The snow has come in very light, with low snow-water equivalency, but in large enough amounts in some areas to cause escalated instability.

More than 20 inches of light, new snow has been observed in the Swan Range, while six inches has been observed in the Whitefish Range without signs of instability.

Reports from skiers and snowmobilers in the Swan Range describe remotely-triggered small soft slab slides within the top 14 to 16 inches of the snowpack. The failures appear to be within the new snow layer deposited over the past 36 hours. There is potential for those small slides to step down deeper into the snowpack, creating larger slides, the center said.

The Flathead Avalanche Center advises caution for those venturing into or below avalanche terrain in the vicinity of steep slopes that have received substantial new snow loading. As always, site-specific evaluations are extremely important to avalanche safety.

The Flathead Avalanche Center will post a scheduled advisory by 7 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 11.