Kalispell ties month's record for cold temps

Some early-season winter weather made this October one of Kalispell’s all-time chilliest.

With an average temperature of 36.9 degrees, Kalispell tied a record low for October temperatures, according to the National Weather Service in Missoula. The previous record was set in 2002.

The average October temperature for Kalispell is 42.1 degrees. This year, the coldest temperature was -3 degrees, recorded on Oct. 29.

Meteorologist Bob Nester of the National Weather Service said Kalispell experienced two significant cold outbreaks – one from Oct. 9-12 and another at the end of the month – and “in between we never built any kind of ridge to build nice warm days.”

However, the cold October weather “doesn’t really tell the story for what will happen the rest of the winter,” Nester said.

Nester said a low pressure system will bring more cool air next week, but “we won’t be impacted nearly as much” compared to the latest cold snap, as the coldest air will stay east of the Continental Divide. There is a possibility for light snow, followed by a dry period that could set up valley fog and inversions.

Temperatures will continue to remain below normal, with highs in the 30s and low 40s.