Rain the next weather concern

After the recent bout of frigid, snowy weather, a change is on the way for Northwest Montana — but it might not be pleasant.

The National Weather Service predicts a warming trend will bring freezing rain, snow showers and rain showers today in the Flathead Valley, followed by rain Wednesday and Thursday.

In addition to ice problems caused by freezing rain, the rain on top of snow is expected to cause ponding of water and possibly minor flooding, according to the Weather Service.

“Locations of biggest concern will be urban areas where plenty of standing snow already exists and will contribute to drainage issues,” the Weather Service said.

High temperatures are expected to reach 34 degrees today, 41 degrees Wednesday and 43 degrees Thursday.

On Sunday, gauges at Glacier Park International Airport measured 10 inches of snow and .47 inches of precipitation. The precipitation set a record for March 2, breaking the old mark of .26 inches set in 1947.

For the winter so far, the Flathead Valley has received 68.7 inches of snow — 35 inches since Jan. 1.

Mountain snowpack is 118 percent of normal in the Flathead River Basin.