Blizzard conditions target Flathead Valley
Alexander Malchik clears snow from the sidewalk along Fourth Avenue East at Third Street East in Kalispell on Jan. 31, 2023. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Weather forecasters are confident that heavy snowfall will impact all of Northwest Montana beginning Monday.
Significant snow is expected to develop by the evening commute and persist into Tuesday as an atmospheric river clashes with an arctic air mass, according to the National Weather Service in Missoula.
Gusty winds, blowing snow and blizzard conditions are likely as the cold front moves across the area.
“Locations most likely to experience these conditions are along the U.S. 2 corridor, including the Flathead Valley and especially east of Kalispell through Marias Pass,” the Weather Service warned.
A winter storm watch was issued through Tuesday night. Total snow accumulations of 6-12 inches are possible for the Flathead Valley and along Flathead Lake.
Up to 3 feet of snow is possible for higher terrain and mountain passes, including Marias Pass south of Glacier National Park. More than 30 inches of powder could blanket the slopes at Whitefish Mountain Resort overnight Monday and Tuesday.
Avalanche danger is expected to rise with the arrival of the storm, the Flathead Avalanche Center warned Sunday.
“We have had nearly seven weeks of relatively bland and benign avalanche conditions. With deep powder in the forecast, we must approach the next few days with our avalanche eyeballs wide open,” avalanche forecaster Mark Dundas wrote in Sunday’s advisory.
Temperatures will plummet Wednesday as the arctic air settles in. Valley lows will dip below zero for most locations.
The Weather Service advised that cold wind chills on Wednesday will have the potential to cause frost bite in 30 minutes or less, especially along the Continental Divide.
The winter storm will give new life to Kalispell's streak of 89 consecutive days with snow on the ground at Glacier Park International Airport. According to the Avalanche Center, the streak began Nov. 23, 2022. It is currently the 31st longest streak for the city.
Missoula recorded its 100th straight day of snow on the ground on Friday. Missoula's record is 122 days set during the heralded 1996-97 winter season.