Weekend storm elevates avalanche danger

Local forecasters are warning of elevated avalanche danger following Sunday’s storm that dumped more than two feet of new snow in the mountains around Whitefish.

The Flathead Avalanche Center on Monday rated the avalanche danger in the Whitefish Range above 6,000 feet as considerable. A rain crust that formed earlier in the week remains a concern with the new snow on top.

“The rain crust that formed earlier in the week reaches into high elevations above 7000 feet and will provide an excellent sliding surface for new slabs,” the center reported Monday.

Avalanche activity was reported in the Canyon Creek area near Whitefish Mountain Resort.

One backcountry skier reported initiating a pair of soft slab avalanches, while a separate party of skiers also reported avalanche activity just outside the ski area boundary. On Sunday, Whitefish Mountain Resort ski patrol had mixed results with explosive and ski cutting mitigation within the resort.

The center advises backcountry travelers to pay attention to signs of instability like cracking, collapsing, “whumpfing.”

Visit www.flatheadavalanche.org for the latest advisory.