Arctic weather targets the Flathead; snow, single-digit temps likely

Beginning Saturday night into Sunday, Northwest Montana’s first major winter storm of the season is expected to bring moderate to heavy snowfall, plummeting temperatures and windy conditions throughout the region.

The National Weather Service in Missoula is predicting a “series of impacts” that will likely begin Saturday as light snowfall picks up and temperatures drop headed into the evening. The first of two cold fronts will hit Sunday, with 3 inches of snow forecast in Kalispell from 5 to 11 p.m.

“When the front gets there late afternoon or early evening that’s when it will really start coming down,” Jeff Kitsmiller, a meteorologist at the Weather Service office in Missoula, said Friday afternoon. “The main thing we’re worried about, when that front gets in it will have wind with it. ... It gets a lot colder and more windy in the late afternoon and evening, so that’s when the roads will get the worst.”

Most of the heavy accumulation will likely occur in the mountains and at mountain passes, with some locations in the region receiving 6 inches to a foot.

By Sunday evening, steadily dropping temperatures could ice up roadways while breezy conditions could cause drifting snow and low visibility — especially at mountain passes.

“That combination of snow, both in valleys and mountains, [and] possible ice formation, this looks like a period we could have some difficult to possibly dangerous travel, especially for the morning commute on Monday,” said Jennifer Kitsmiller, another National Weather Service meteorologist based in Missoula.

By Monday morning, Kalispell is expected to see a low temperature of 16 degrees while most of the heavy snowfall is forecast to taper off. Monday won’t see much of a warm-up: Kalispell is expected to top off at 20 degrees during the day, with similar temperature ranges throughout the region.

A second push of Arctic air starting Monday night will drop temperatures even lower by Tuesday morning. Kalispell residents can expect to wake up to a low temperature of 1 degree.

“The next shot of much colder air looks like it’s going to come in Monday night or Tuesday morning, and that’s when we’re expecting the stronger winds for you guys,” Kitsmiller said, adding that Tuesday will see a “balmy 9 degrees” as a high temperature, with windchills as low as 20 degrees below zero.

All told, Kalispell is forecast to get 5 to 10 inches by mid-week, with 8 inches to a foot forecast in West Glacier.

Reporter Sam Wilson can be reached at 758-4407 or by email at swilson@dailyinterlake.com.