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Whitefish is one helluva ski resort and although it’s not often in the headlines, the Montana ski area is making the rounds thanks to a recent winter storm that could fall under the overused qualifier, “All-Time.”
Related: Two Montana Snowmobilers Buried In Flathead County Avalanche
Right now, NOAA is calling for upwards of 50″ in some areas of northern Montana with snowfall rates reaching 2+ inches/hour. Although that snow is great news for resort shredding locals, be aware that the avalanche danger is currently rated as “Extreme” and officials with the Flathead Avalanche Center are recommending backcountry travelers avoid skiing in avalanche terrain until the new snow has a chance to settle and bond with older layers. #KBYG
Forecasted Snowfall Totals:
- Whitefish – 20″
- Montana Snowbowl – 12″
- Big Sky – 10″
- Bridger Bowl – 9″
Blizzard Warning + Winter Storm Warning
…BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM MST THIS MORNING…
…WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 11 PM MST THIS EVENING…
* VERY HEAVY SNOW WILL COMBINE WITH INCREASING EAST WINDS TO CAUSE BLIZZARD CONDITIONS. THE PERIOD FOR THE WORST CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR FROM 3 AM MST THROUGH ROUGHLY 7 AM MST. SNOWFALL RATES OF 2 INCHES PER HOUR WILL BE LIKELY. ROADS WILL BECOME IMPASSIBLE THROUGH MONDAY MORNING. VISIBILITY WILL LOWER TO LESS THAN ONE QUARTER MILE. SNOW DRIFTS OVER ROADS WILL MAKE DRIVING TREACHEROUS AND SNOW PLOW OPERATIONS DIFFICULT.
* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 15 TO 35 INCHES THROUGH TONIGHT. HIGHWAY 2 OVER MARIAS PASS COULD SEE A STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL AMOUNT EXCEEDING 50 INCHES.
* WINDS: 25 TO 35 MPH WITH LOCALLY STRONGER GUSTS.
Avalanche Warning
BACKCOUNTRY AVALANCHE WARNING
Forest Service Flathead Avalanche Center Kalispell MT Relayed by National Weather Service Missoula MT 644 AM MST Mon Feb 6 2017
The following message is transmitted at the request of the Forest Service Flathead Avalanche Center Kalispell MT
…The Forest Service Flathead Avalanche Center Kalispell MT has continued the Backcountry Avalanche Warning…
* Timing…In effect from 7 am this morning to 7 AM MST tomorrow
* Affected Area…For the Whitefish Range, Swan Range, Flathead Range, and southern Glacier National Park.
* Avalanche Danger…The avalanche danger will rise to high today on all aspects and elevations.
* Reason…recent heavy snow combined with wind will create widespread areas of unstable snow.
*PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
Backcountry travelers should stay off of, and out from
underneath, slopes steeper than 30 degrees. Avalanches may run
long distances and can run into mature forests. Choose
conservative terrain.
*Consult http://www.flatheadavalanche.org for more detailed
information.
Similar avalanche danger may exist at locations outside the coverage area of any Avalanche Center. Check www.avalanche.org for your closest Avalanche Center. Check www.fsavalanche.org to learn more about how to identify avalanche hazards.