Northwest Montana hit with snow; more cold on the way
The National Weather Service is forecasting this year’s second round of arctic winds to blow through Northwest Montana this week. The negative temperatures are predicted to come on the heels of a snowstorm that dumped between 3 and 6 inches of snow across the Flathead Valley as of Monday morning.
Luke Robinson, a meteorologist with the weather service based in Missoula, said northeasterly winds could bring below-zero temperatures and blowing snow to Northwest Montana.
“We’re watching another potential arctic to come through Tuesday and Wednesday,” he said. “It should stay cold next week, with another cold, wet snowstorm into next weekend. Though, there’s no good details yet, there’s still some uncertainty as we’re watching what happens.”
A winter storm warning was in effect for northwestern Montana and for the Bitterroot Valley through 5 p.m. Monday. Heavy snowfall delivered between 3 and 6 inches of snow over the valley Sunday night and into Monday morning. Robinson predicted another 2 to 4 inches to blanket areas in Northwest Montana throughout Monday.
Tuesday snow could bring another 1 to 3 inches before 11 a.m. with a high of 24 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
“There will be a few snow showers after (Monday) evening, but the impactful snows, causing issues with roads and such, should slow down,” Robinson said.
Heavy snow fall followed by cold snaps have been a cycle so far this winter.
Snowfall in December reached 33.6 inches. That’s the fifth-largest total on record since 1899 and more than twice the monthly average, according to the National Weather Service.
The first week of January, arctic air from Siberia spilled into Montana. In Kalispell, the cold snap dipped as low as minus 22 degrees.
Robinson said like December, January is on track to have an above-average snowfall across the state. As of Monday, the Flathead Valley had seen roughly 8 inches of snow so far this month.
“We are above our normal snowfall so far, and we’re expecting to stay above,” Robinson said. “It’s looking like another snowy, cold month.”
The rough weather conditions on Monday caused warnings, hazardous road conditions and school closures around the state.
At least eight schools in western Montana were closed Monday due to the weather and dangerous road conditions.
Classes were canceled in St. Regis and Superior and in the Bitterroot Valley schools of Florence, Stevensville, Victor, Corvallis, Hamilton and Darby Monday.
The start of classes were delayed by two hours in several other districts including Bonner, Potomac, Dixon and Frenchtown.
The Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center has issued a backcountry avalanche warning for the mountains around Cooke City. Heavy, wet snowfall overnight and strong winds are adding weight to a weak and unstable snowpack. A foot of snow has fallen near Cooke City since Sunday morning and another 8 to 10 inches was forecast on Monday.
Center officials say the avalanche danger is rated high on all slopes, meaning natural and human triggered avalanches are likely Monday.
The Montana Department of Transportation lists severe driving conditions on Interstate 90 from the Idaho border to St. Regis and from Alberton to Missoula; on Montana 200 from Missoula to Potomac and on U.S. Highway 93 from Missoula south to Stevensville.
As of Monday afternoon, there had been 25 vehicle accidents around the state since the snowstorm began Sunday night, according to Montana Highway Patrol. That includes seven incidents of drivers losing control and sliding off the road.
Reporter Katheryn Houghton may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at khoughton@dailyinterlake.com.