Snow closes Logan Pass; more winter weather ahead

A chilly turn in the weather Tuesday prompted a temporary closure of Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road.

Higher elevations of the park had winter weather conditions, including wind, snow, ice and limited visibility. Sun Road was closed from Big Bend west of Logan Pass to Jackson Glacier Overlook east of the pass.

Visitors could drive about 28 miles from the west entrance to Big Bend and about 13.5 miles from the St. Mary entrance to Jackson Glacier Overlook.

The closure was expected to remain in effect until conditions improve.

The National Weather Service in Missoula predicted that winter weather conditions to continue, particularly above  5,000 feet, with a secondary weather front pushing across Western Montana today.

“A very cold air mass” will be over the region by Thursday night and Friday morning and temperatures in many places are expected to reach the freezing mark, a weather advisory states.

Kalispell, Missoula and Butte could have record low temperatures by Friday morning.

The forecast low is 25 degrees for the Flathead Valley on Friday morning — so sensitive garden plants such as tomatoes will need to be covered.

Logan Pass could receive 8.3 inches of snow through noon Thursday, while Marias Pass ay get 4.6 inches, according to the Weather Service. Elevations above 7,000 feet could get as much as 15 inches of snow.