Next weather insult: rain on top of snow

The weather is about to get more complicated, with a forecast projecting rain on top of a heavy snow load starting today.

"Most of the valley areas throughout Western Montana and Idaho should be getting precipitation mainly in the form of rain" starting this afternoon and continuing into Wednesday, said Peter Felsch, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Missoula.

"Our main concern at this point is snow loading in areas where heavy snow already exists."

With a possible 2 to 3 inches of rain on snow, there is potential for water pooling in certain areas.

More than 24 inches of snow fell at Glacier Park International Airport on Jan. 1 and 2, breaking records for snowfall on both dates. The total Flathead Valley snowfall since early December is more than 60 inches with a current snow depth of 42 inches at the airport.

Before the rain arrives, the forecast projects 2 to 4 inches of additional snow in Western Montana valleys by this morning.

Then a front will move in with temperatures expected to rise into the 30s, with lower temperatures and snow continuing at elevations above 5,000 feet.

There is a possibility, Felsch said, for freezing rain to fall in Northwest Montana valleys.

Thursday will bring "more of the same," Felsch said, including "hefty precipitation."

The additional snowfall and rain are likely to worsen the potential for avalanches. The Glacier Country Avalanche Center rated the danger as "high" over most mountain ranges in Northwest Montana immediately after last week's heavy snowfall.