Schools, Highways Closed As Severe Winter Storm Pummels Northwest Montana
Monday closures included schools in Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls and Bigfork along with Libby, Eureka and Troy
By Associated Press & Beacon Staff
Updated: Feb. 6, 3:15 p.m.
Schools across Northwest Montana are closed and highway and rail traffic over Marias Pass have come to a standstill as a massive winter storm pummels the region.
Schools throughout northwestern Montana cancelled classes on Monday due to a strong winter storm.
Closures included schools in Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls and Bigfork along with Libby, Eureka and Troy. Thompson Falls delayed the start of classes by 2 ½ hours. Flathead Valley Community College announced the Kalispell and Lincoln County campuses are closed.
The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for northwestern Montana until 11 p.m. Monday and a blizzard warning along the Flathead Range including West Glacier and Essex for Monday morning. Bigfork received 18 inches of snow in a 12-hour period ending at 5 a.m. Monday.
Some of the biggest snow totals were reported on the Rocky Mountain Front where upwards of 51 inches of snow fell in East Glacier Park. On Monday afternoon, the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council declared a state of emergency and urged people to “shelter in place” until the storm was over.
The Flathead Avalanche Center has issued a backcountry avalanche warning for the Whitefish, Swan and Flathead mountain ranges and southern Glacier National Park. Avalanche danger is extreme.
Highway and rail traffic has been halted over Marias Pass due to the storm.
The Montana Department of Transportation said that U.S. Highway 2 between Essex and East Glacier Park was closed except for local traffic.
At least one avalanche had blocked BNSF Railway’s main line over Marias Pass, delaying freight and passenger trains. BNSF spokesperson Ross Lane said that all rail operations were suspended between Whitefish and Shelby.
“BNSF crews were prepared for and are actively working to mitigate avalanche debris and blowing snow that has reached the rail grade,” Lane said. “While we currently have no estimated time for reopening both main tracks, we will resume operations through the corridor when conditions allow for the safe movement of trains.”
Amtrak was warning passengers that there would be no alternative service across Montana due to the storm and the U.S. Highway 2 closure.
Amtrak Spokesperson Marc Magliari said that passengers aboard the delayed Empire Builder trains would ether be returned home or put up in hotels in Whitefish or Shelby until the line is clear. The Empire Builder trains scheduled to depart Portland and Seattle Monday evening were canceled and the one originating from Chicago was going to turn at St. Paul, Minnesota.