Brrr! - Beware winter in Glacier Park

Summer hikers beware: A winter weather advisory has been issued for high terrain in Glacier National Park from 4 a.m. to noon today.

The advisory issued by the National Weather Service in Missoula predicts a “huge change to much colder conditions,” strong winds and rain and snow above 7,000 feet.

Wind gusts are expected to reach 70 mph at Logan Pass, and temperatures are expected to be 20 to 30 degrees lower than temperatures so far this week.

An inch of snow is possible at elevations above 7,000 feet.

The Weather Service also issued a wind advisory for the West Glacier area, with west winds of 15  to 25 mph. The advisory applies to areas including Essex, Polebridge, Marias Pass and the corridor from Bigfork to Swan Lake.

The wind accompanying an incoming cold front also is expected to be felt at lower elevations in the Flathead Valley.

A lake wind advisory is in effect for the Flathead and Mission valleys, with wave heights of 3 to 4 feet expected, particularly on Flathead Lake. The north and east sides of the lake will be hardest hit, according to the Weather Service.

In Kalispell, the high temperature today is predicted to be 62 degrees with an overnight low of 37 degrees.

The high in West Glacier today should be 60 with a low tonight of 35 degrees.