119 mph wind gust recorded at Logan Pass; avy danger high

Officials are warning backcountry travelers of high avalanche danger in the mountains of Glacier Park and the Flathead National Forest.

Glacier Country Avalanche Center reports that new snow and wind-loading is causing natural and triggered avalanches. The new snow is on top of a less dense and shallow snowpack.

About a foot of heavy snow fell in the upper elevations of the Whitefish Range over the past two days. The National Weather Service says a 119 mph wind gust was recorded at 4 a.m. Thursday by a wind gauge on the top of the visitor center at Logan Pass in Glacier Park.

Avalanches are reportedly ripping loose at 2-3 feet deep, and sometimes down to bear grass, officials report.

New snow and more wind predicted for today and tomorrow could add stress to the current snowpack. The avalanche center will issue an updated report on Friday.

The West Central Montana Avalanche Center issued an avalanche warning for the mountains above 6,000 feet after up to 18 inches of snow fell on a very weak snowpack over the past couple of days.

Meanwhile, the west entrance to Yellowstone National Park was closed after an SUV-sized boulder fell on the road sometime early Thursday. Park crews used tractors to push the boulder off the road and reopened the road Thursday afternoon.

- The Associated Press contributed to this article