Avalanche warnings issued for Sawtooth, Gallatin regions

The Gallatin National Forest has issued a backcountry avalanche warning for a substantial area near West Yellowstone. Similar warnings are issued for the Sawtooth region of Idaho and Bridger Teton area of western Wyoming and eastern Idaho, where avalanche danger is high at all elevations.

The Gallatin Avalanche Center said the area includes the Lionhead area near West Yellowstone, the Centennial Range, the southern Madison and southern Gallatin Ranges.

Danger is high in each area due to recent heavy snow combined with wind. The combination will result in widespread avalanche activity that could be both human-triggered and natural avalanches on slopes steeper than 30 degrees.

Travelers should stay off and out from underneath slopes steeper than 30 degrees. According to the center, avalanches could run long distances and into mature forests.