MISSOULA – City officials have issued an avalanche warning for the Rattlesnake area.
An Urban Avalanche Warning has been issued for Mount Jumbo. which has been closed to all activities. Residents must stay off the mountain to reduce human-triggered avalanches.
Dangerous avalanche conditions exist on Mount Jumbo, according to a news release.
The conditions are very similar to conditions present at the time of the 2014 avalanche and could worsen with the forecasted continued snow, winds and frigid temperatures.
People are being told to stay off the mountain to help minimize the chance of triggering avalanches. Anyone who violates the closure can be ticketed, and risk causing an event that harms people and their homes.
The Missoula County Office of Emergency has issued an urban avalanche warning by cell and land-line phones to residents living at the base of Mount Jumbo on the Rattlesnake and East Missoula sides.
Residents should be alert and should report people violating the closure to 911 immediately.
Five years ago on this date, an avalanche roared into a Rattlesnake neighborhood claiming one life.
The City of Missoula will share the latest information on urban avalanche danger at 3 p.m. Thursday at fire station 1 at 625 East Pine Street.
