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Avalanche danger is 'considerable' in southwest Montana

Avalanche in snowy mountains
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There are dangerous avalanche conditions in the mountains between West Yellowstone and Bozeman.

There are dangerous avalanche conditions in the mountains between West Yellowstone and Bozeman.

Dave Zinn with the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center said Monday morning that about a foot of snow has fallen over the last two days in the mountains around West Yellowstone and Cooke City, and in the Gallatin and southern Madison ranges.

Avalanche danger in that region is considerable, meaning dangerous conditions with a likelihood of human-caused avalanches.

"Human-triggered avalanches breaking up to two feet deep are likely on wind-loaded slopes," Zinn said. "Larger avalanches breaking deeper into the snowpack are possible."

Zinn said over the last five days there have been four unintentionally triggered avalanches in the closed Bridger Bowl Ski Area. Avalanche danger in the Bridger Range and northern Madison is moderate, meaning human-triggered avalanches are possible.

Copyright 2022 Montana Public Radio. To see more, visit Montana Public Radio.

Corin Cates-Carney is the Flathead Valley reporter for MTPR.