Rain breaks long dry spell

by Daily Inter Lake
| September 7, 2012 5:55 AM

Heavy rain fell across Northwest Montana on Thursday, breaking a long spell of dry weather.

Rainfall amounts ranged from 1.05 inches in Kalispell to .44 inches at Glacier Park International Airport to .85 inches in Creston, according to National Weather Service measurements.

The rain put a damper on a fire burning in Glacier National Park.

Park officials report that at least eight-tenths of an inch of rain and low temperatures have slowed the Avalanche Wildland Fire substantially.

Firefighting operations have been scaled back on the 70-acre fire on Mount Brown, but the popular Avalanche Lake Trail remains closed until further notice.

Dry weather is expected to return to the Flathead Valley for the weekend.

Today and Saturday are forecast to be sunny with highs around 80 degrees.

Saturday night through Sunday night there is a 20 percent chance of rain.