'Extreme cold' to ice Western Montana
Vehicles travel along a snow-covered Fairmont Road on Tuesday, Dec. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Sylvia Kerchner shovels snow in front of her residence along Third Avenue East with her border collie mix named Schuster on Tuesday, Dec. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Kevin Kasperson rides his bicycle along Eleventh Street East as snow falls in Kalispell on Tuesday, Dec. 20. Kasperson was riding over to a friend's residence to help them with shoveling. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Traffic travels along the Kalispell Bypass as snow falls on Tuesday, Dec. 20. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Dangerously cold temperatures and significant snowfall will impact Western Montana overnight Wednesday into Thursday morning as a surge of arctic air intensifies across the region, the National Weather Service warned in a press briefing Monday evening.
Potentially record-breaking lows are expected region wide, with Kalispell residents possibly waking up to temperatures of minus 30F on Thursday. Polebridge and West Glacier could dip to 35-40 below zero.
“Daily minimum temperature records for Dec. 22 will very likely be broken in many locations, and all-time records for some, including Missoula (-33F) and Butte (-52F) may be threatened,” the Weather Service’s forecast discussion noted Monday. “Make no bones about it, an extreme cold event of historic proportions is possible Thursday morning.”
Frostbite, hypothermia and damage to infrastructure are all concerns during the cold snap, the Weather Service warned. Frostbite could occur on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.
Along with the brutal temperatures, widespread heavy snow is in the mix for Wednesday morning, with snowfall rates of up to an inch an hour possible.
Generally, 5-10 inches is expected in the Flathead Valley. Higher terrain, such as Lookout and Lolo passes, could pick up 18 inches.
Winds will cause periods of blizzard-like conditions in the Flathead Valley, especially for Columbia Falls and the Bad Rock Canyon area, the Weather Service advised. Wind chill factors in the minus 30 to minus 50 degrees range will be common Wednesday morning.
Travel will be extremely difficult. The Weather Service advised people to keep an extra flashlight, food and water in their vehicle in case of an emergency.
"If there ever was a scenario when discretionary travel across the region should be avoided, this is that time," the Weather Service warned.
Temperatures will moderate by Christmas Eve, with the forecast offering a chance of snow and lows in the teens for the Flathead Valley.
The Flathead Electric Co-op advised people to be prepared in case of a power outage during the arctic blast.
Among their tips, people should:
• Make sure you have an alternate heat source, and keep it properly prepared.
• Stock up on water. Electric water pumps don’t work when the power is out. Store your water supply where it won’t freeze.
• Lay in extra food supplies, and remember infant formula and pet food.
• Charge up your devices, and put your flashlights, batteries, power banks, lanterns, and radios in an easy-to-access location.
• Top off your gas tank.
• Prep your home for cold temperatures. Seal drafts, insulate pipes and install carbon monoxide detectors with battery backups on every level of your home.
