Recent heavy snow and moderate to strong winds have led to avalanche warnings for the mountains of western and southwestern Montana.
The Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center issued a backcountry avalanche warning on Monday for the Bridger, Gallatin and Madison ranges and the Lionhead area near West Yellowstone and Cooke City. The mountains near Cooke City received 15 inches of snow in a 24-hour period ending Monday morning.
The Flathead Avalanche Center says the avalanche danger is high in the Whitefish, Swan and Flathead ranges and the southern portion of Glacier National Park due to substantial continued snowfall.
The West Central Montana Avalanche Foundation issued an avalanche warning for the west central Montana backcountry above 5,000 feet, where 30 inches of snow is in the 48-hour forecast. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended.