Heavy Snowfall Raises Avalanche Concerns in Montana
An avalanche warning has been posted for the mountain that overlooks the city of Missoula in southwest Montana.
Officials also closed Mount Jumbo to people to reduce the chance of human-triggered avalanches. Small avalanches have occurred on the mountain after the heavy snowfall the area has seen in recent days, but no avalanches have reached the valley floor.
This week marks the five-year anniversary of the deadly Mount Jumbo avalanche, which killed one person and destroyed a home in 2014.
A large part of Montana has been buried by a series of snowstorms in recent weeks, raising concerns about avalanches in mountain areas.
Officials in Ravalli County and Anaconda-Deer Lodge County have declared states of emergency to help deal with snow removal and other costs associated with the storms.