Avalanche conditions rated high

Forest Service avalanche specialist Stan Bones issued a special backcountry avalanche warning on Feb. 22 for the Flathead and Kootenai national forests and Glacier National Park.

The avalanche danger was considered high between 4,500 and 7,500 feet on all steep, open slopes and gullies.

Travel in avalanche terrain was not recommended until the current snowpack had time to settle and strengthen. Natural avalanches were considered likely to occur, and human-caused avalanches were considered very likely to occur.

The dangerous conditions were caused by wind moving snow around the mountains, rapidly warming temperatures and heavy precipitation as rain or snow. Another strong Pacific weather system was expected to reach Northwest Montana by the weekend.