More snow on the way
The Kalispell-area is looking at a “pretty nasty weekend,” according to National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Johnson.
A winter storm warning is in effect for Flathead County, West Glacier and the Bob Marshall region until Monday.
Temperatures are expected to be chilly, with lows hovering around 3 degrees and highs near 12 degrees predicted today in Kalispell. Steady snowfall is expected through today and into tonight.
Columbia Falls is expected to get the brunt of the cold front, with wind chills dropping the temperature as low as minus 25 today. Around 5 inches of snow fell Saturday, and between 2 and 4 inches are expected to fall today.
Today’s forecast for Kalispell includes steady snowfall with accumulation up to 3 inches and steady 15 to 20 mph wind from the northeast.
Three inches of snow were recorded Saturday. A high of 5 degrees is expected today, with a low of 1 below zero.
Whitefish’s forecast doesn’t include as much wind as Columbia Falls or Kalispell, but does have quite a bit more snow. Around 3 inches accumulated Saturday and around 3 inches are expected to fall in town today. It should be a bit warmer there, with a high of 12 today and a low of 4 degrees.
Heavy snow, accumulating to about a foot and a half between Saturday and this afternoon, is expected at Whitefish Mountain Resort.
Blacktail Mountain Resort saw between 6 to 8 inches Saturday night and should expect to see 4 to 8 inches fall today.
Cold air is making its way through Glacier National Park. Marias Pass reported temperatures of minus 3 Saturday afternoon, and it should continue snowing through this afternoon.
According to the Montana Department of Transportation, U.S. routes in Flathead County are snow-packed and icy, and state routes are snow-covered and icy, with reports of black ice in some places.
Road conditions caused the Glacier High School freshman and sophomore girls basketball teams to turn around Saturday morning while on their way to Great Falls, Flathead High School activities director Frank Jobe said. Before the bus reached Marias Pass on U.S. 2, the driver decided to turn around.
The varsity girls’ bus left about an hour later and took Montana 83 through the Swan Valley, Jobe said. Teams from Flathead High had left earlier in the morning and were able to travel U.S. 2 before the roads were too dangerous, he said.
Swimmers traveling from Havre to Great Falls had to head west to Shelby and south on Interstate 15. All teams will return from Great Falls via the Swan Highway, Jobe said.