Flathead Avalanche Center issues special avalanche bulletin for 'unusually dangerous conditions'

KALISPELL, Mont. - The Flathead Avalanche Center in Hungry Horse issued a special avalanche bulletin on Thursday for "unusually dangerous avalanche conditions" through Sunday. The center said that natural avalanches are possible, but human-triggered avalanches are likely.

The alert is in effect for the Whitefish, Swan, Flathead and Apgar Ranges, as well as Lake McDonald and Marias Pass in Glacier National Park. It's set to expire at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday.

"Persistent weak layers buried two to three feet deep remain sensitive to the weight of a person or snowmachine," the center wrote in a press release. "Slabs can be triggered from long distances away. Avalanches may connect across terrain features like ridges, releasing multiple start zones at once."

Four accidents have been reported in the last week, Flathead Avalanche Center said.

Recreationists are warned to pay close attention to terrain, avoid travel on or under steep slopes and monitor avalanche forecasts regularly.

For more information, visit the Flathead Avalanche Center website.