Cold snap should break by Sunday

The Daily Inter Lake

Subzero temperatures will keep the Flathead Valley in the deep freeze today, but a warm front should begin to move through Western Montana by Sunday, the National Weather Service said.

An arctic cold front hovering over Northwest Montana broke the record low in Eureka on Friday, where a minus 28 reading shattered the 1972 record of minus 25. Libby tied its record low temperature for Jan. 14 with a minus 14 reading.

Polebridge was among the coldest spots in the area on Friday with a temperature of 29 below zero at 8:45 a.m., the Weather Service said. It was nearly as cold near West Glacier, where the temperature was about minus 28 midway between Coram and West Glacier, a waitress at the Spruce Park Cafe said.

At Olney, it was minus 8 Friday morning, but three miles southwest of Olney along Good Creek, the temperature dropped to minus 22, reported Thad Briggs.

Glacier Park International Airport recorded minus 23 Friday morning, but it didn't break the 1972 record of minus 26.

This morning's temperature, however, was expected to break the Jan. 15 record of minus 21 for Kalispell.

Subzero temperatures forced Big Mountain Ski Resort to cancel some activities. Today's Big Mountain Ski Club family race and the Masters training-day event were canceled.

On Friday, the telemark race league canceled its races because of the cold, spokesman Brian Schott said.

The temperature was minus 2 at the summit of Big Mountain late Friday afternoon, but 10 mph winds dropped the wind chill to minus 22.

Subzero temperatures may continue into this evening, but cloud cover moving in should bring some relief, meteorologist Peter Felsch said.

As the warm front moves in, warm moist air will ride over cold air now in place over Montana. That has the potential to yield significant snow accumulations.