Libby shovels slush

Whitefish resort welcomes snow

The Daily Inter Lake

Libby residents scrambled on Monday to shovel more than a foot of heavy snow and slush from rooftops and driveways before more heavy snow was scheduled to hit overnight.

A winter storm warning for Lincoln County called for continuing heavy snowfall at middle and high elevations through 3 a.m. today.

The National Weather Service warned that the combined weight of rain and snow could cause potential structure failures.

A spokeswoman at the Western News in Libby said snow accumulations over the weekend were between 13 and 16 inches in the city, but heavy rain began falling Sunday night, causing copious amounts of slush.

A winter storm warning also was in effect for the West Glacier area, where accumulations of up to 30 inches of snow were expected above 4,500 feet through this morning.

Winds with gusts of up to 30 miles per hour were forecast over the higher terrain, causing blowing and drifting snow.

On Monday afternoon, it was raining in Essex, the desk clerk at the Izaak Walton Inn said. She estimated snow depth at about 10 inches at the inn.

WHITEFISH MOUNTAIN Resort on Big Mountain escaped the valley rain on Monday and was able to add considerably to its base of snow as the resort prepares to open on Saturday.

"All last night it snowed," resort spokesman Donnie Clapp said Monday. "We got 20 inches overnight at the summit and 12 inches in the village since Friday. And the weather outlook is good for more snow."

Rain turned to snow at Ptarmigan Village, well below the ski resort, but the snow line was moving upward Monday afternoon. The resort could see some rainfall, but the forecast for somewhat lower temperatures bodes well for the season opener, Clapp said.

"It's wet, heavy snow and great for building base," he said.

The summit has a settled base of 35 inches, with 15 inches in the village.

Snow-making machines are temporarily shut off because it needs to be 25 degrees or colder to make snow, Clapp said.

In the Flathead Valley, meanwhile, the winter storm produced rain Sunday night and Monday.

Rain showers are expected today, with a high temperature of 46 degrees. The rain may turn to snow showers after midnight, followed by rain or snow showers Wednesday and Thursday.

The National Weather Service predicts highs in the low 30s Wednesday and Thursday in the Flathead.