Forest Expands Area Of Avalanche Warning

Tue., Jan. 10, 1995

Associated Press

The Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center expanded its avalanche warning Monday to include the southern Madison and Gallatin Ranges, south of the Big Sky ski area.

Avalanche warnings were issued Sunday and continued Monday for the mountains around Cooke City, the Washburn Range and the Lionhead area near West Yellowstone.

The warning areas issued by the Avalanche Center have received from 18 to 30 inches of new snow on top of a very weak layer of old snow, causing an unstable snowpack.

Avalanche danger is considered high on all slopes steeper than 30 degrees.

In addition, the Forest Service and National Park Service said avalanche conditions exist in the Whitefish, Kootenai and Swan ranges as well as Glacier National Park. The risk of avalanche is high at all levels west of the divide, and moderate east of the divide.

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