Weather closes Whitefish schools

Winds, drifting snow and low temperatures hit the Flathead Valley on Thursday morning.

Weather forced the closure of Whitefish schools Thursday, although all other Flathead schools remain open. Some roads in the Whitefish area were impassable because of snow drifts.

Blizzard conditions on Blacktail Mountain forced the Lakeside ski area to close on Thursday. Blacktail received 8 inches of new snow but the temperature Thursday was minus 12 and winds were blowing up to 35 mph. The ski area plans to reopen on Friday.

Conditions were similarly chilly at Whitefish Mountain Resort.

Three upper-mountain chair lifts - Chair 1, Chair 8 and Chair 7 - were closed because of wind gusts of more than 50 mph and temperatures at the summit of minus 16 degrees.

Lower lifts were operating Thursday. At the village area, the temperature was minus 10 and winds were 10 to 20 mph.

The Flathead Valley forecast for the rest of today, according to the National Weather Service, calls for blowing snow, mostly cloudy and cold, with a high near 6. Wind chill values in the Flathead Valley are expected to be as low as minus 26.

Winds from the north and northeast wind are predicted to be between 28 and 30 mph, with gusts as high as 44 mph.

Tonight the arctic weather is expected to send the thermometer down to 14 below zero, with wind chill values as low as 33 below zero.

The record low for Feb. 25 in Kalispell is 13 below zero set in 1922; the record low for Feb. 26 is 10 below zero, also in 1922. Both records may be broken if Weather Service predictions come true.