Blizzard warning issued for Flathead Valley
John K. rides a scooter back to his residence along Fifth Avenue West during a snowstorm on Wednesday, Jan. 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Allie O'Brien takes her dog Pico for a walk along Fifth Street East during a snowstorm on Wednesday, Jan. 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Khenda Beebe shovels snow from the sidewalk in front of her residence along Fourth Avenue East during a snowstorm on Wednesday, Jan. 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Dalen Wagner walks to a neighbor's residence to shovel their snow-covered sidewalks along Sixth Street West during a snowstorm Wednesday afternoon Jan. 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
A Road Closed sign along Four Mile Drive in Kalispell on Wednesday, Jan. 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
A resident of Two Mile Drive clears his driveway during a snowstorm on Wednesday, Jan. 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
The National Weather Service warned that Flathead Valley roads could become impassable by Thursday morning due to deep and drifting snow.
A blizzard warning was issued for the Flathead and Mission valleys, with total snow accumulations of up to 14 inches in the forecast for Kalispell. Snowfall rates of up to an inch an hour are possible.
Up to 2 feet of snow is possible over mountain passes and around Glacier National Park.
The heavy snow will be accompanied by wind gusts of 45 mph.
The Weather Service cautioned that whiteout conditions are likely, making travel "treacherous and potentially life-threatening."
"Roadways may become impassable due to blowing and drifting snow, particularly across the Flathead Valley," the Weather Service advised.
Blizzard conditions are likely along U.S. 93 between Whitefish and Eureka, and for the Bedrock Canyon area near Columbia Falls.
Meanwhile, wind chill values will dip to minus 35.
During these conditions, travel should be restricted to emergencies only, the Weather Service advised.
"If you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you," the Weather Service added. "If you get stranded, stay with your vehicle."
Flathead County Road and Sheriff's departments were set to close Hodgson Road from Trumble Creek to near Whitefish Stage Road. The gates were set to be closed around 1-3 p.m. The Roads Department hoped to begin plowing late Thursday or Friday morning to clear the area, depending upon weather conditions, according to Flathead County Public Information Officer Kim Grieser.
Backcountry avalanche danger was rated as considerable Wednesday and was expected to rise as snowfall piled up.
Natural and triggered soft slab avalanches will become more likely — and larger — as low-density snow accumulates, the Flathead Avalanche Center warned in its forecast.
Allie O'Brien takes her dog Pico for a walk along Fifth Street East during a snowstorm on Wednesday, Jan. 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Khenda Beebe shovels snow from the sidewalk in front of her residence along Fourth Avenue East during a snowstorm on Wednesday, Jan. 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Dalen Wagner walks to a neighbor's residence to shovel their snow-covered sidewalks along Sixth Street West during a snowstorm Wednesday afternoon Jan. 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
A Road Closed sign along Four Mile Drive in Kalispell on Wednesday, Jan. 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
A resident of Two Mile Drive clears his driveway during a snowstorm on Wednesday, Jan. 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider