Updated: 4 p.m.
This afternoon’s reprieve from a massive winter storm that has wreaked havoc on Northwest Montana appears to be temporary, according to the National Weather Service in Missoula.
A winter weather advisory is in effect from 5 p.m. this afternoon until 9 a.m., Wednesday morning and meteorologists say Arctic winds are on tap for this evening. Wind gusts of 20 to 30 miles per hour will likely result in blowing and drifting snow across the Flathead Valley tonight. A gust upwards of 40 mph was reported just before 4 p.m., according to the NWS.
Temperatures will also drop, turning slush into ice and producing slick roads and sidewalks overnight. Drivers will likely experience another messy commute Wednesday morning, forecasters said.
The City of Whitefish also announced Tuesday afternoon that the scheduled garbage and recycle site pick-up would be delayed due to the recent storm. Sherri Baccaro, assistant to the public works director, said collections would continue when and where conditions permit.
Meanwhile, it appears the holiday break will finally come to an end for students across the valley. As of Tuesday afternoon, the Flathead County Superintendent of Schools was reporting that all schools would resume Wednesday.
Updated: 1 p.m.
The City of Kalispell is asking residents with parked vehicles that have been on streets and avenues for an extended period to move them so crews can plow the roads. City street operators are having a difficult time identifying parked vehicles from snow berms, and drivers are asked to brush off the snow from vehicles so operators can identify them.
Also, snow crews have observed children playing in the piles of snow and city officials are asking residents to keep their children off these berms for safety.
“Our plow operators cannot see them and have no warning that children are in the area,” according to a city news release.
Updated: 8:30 a.m.
Schools in Flathead County were closed for the second day in a row due to hazardous conditions and state highway officials are reporting dangerous roads throughout Northwest Montana.
An avalanche swept across U.S. Highway 2 near Essex around 5:45 a.m., Tuesday, covering the entire road and halting traffic, according to the state Department of Transportation. Crews cleared the road and both lanes were reopened by 8 a.m.
A winter storm warning from the National Weather Service remains in effect throughout Northwest Montana, with freezing rain, fog and slick roadways hampering travel. The impacted roadways are: U.S. 2 from Kalispell to Libby; Highway 37 from Eureka to Libby; Highway 56 along Bull Lake Road; and U.S. Highway 93 from Eureka to Whitefish.
MDT officials are also reporting freezing rain between Columbia Falls and West Glacier. Montana Highway 35 from Polson to Yellow Bay is also experiencing slick roads.
— All public schools in Flathead County were closed Tuesday, the Flathead County Superintendent of Schools announced. St. Matthew’s is also closed. Public schools in Lake County, including Polson, were implementing two-hour delays.
— The Flathead Avalanche Center reported dangerous conditions in the backcountry, and recreationists should use extra caution when venturing in the mountains.
— The City of Kalispell is reminding residents to move parked vehicles from the roads to allow plow crews to clear snow. Crews will be clearing avenues on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and streets on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Vehicles that are not moved in a 72-hour period will be marked with a violation sticker and should be moved promptly, according to the police department. Click here for more information about plowing in the city.
— The City of Whitefish has deployed its entire fleet of plow equipment to clear priority routes and emergency routes, city officials said. Six vehicles are tasked with clearing the city’s 62 miles of roads, beginning with designated streets that are considered priorities. Click here to view those streets. Once those routes are cleared, plows will clear commercial and residential neighborhoods. “The more cars off the street, the faster and better job we can do clearing the roadway. If you have a driveway, please use it,” city officials stated.
— Eagle Transit is operating its full bus schedule Tuesday.
Storm Totals
Jan. 4-5
Columbia Falls — 34.5 inches
Noisy Basin — 22 inches
3 Miles N. of Bigfork — 26.5 inches
Bigfork — 21.5 inches
Olney —19.8 inches
5 Miles W. of Kalispell — 13.2 inches
Kalispell/Glacier Park International Airport — 18.7 inches
Essex — 12 inches
Whitefish — 11.6 inches
Lakeside — 12 inches
Marion — 12 inches
Rollins — 14 inches
Libby — 18 inches
Troy — 9.5 inches
Seeley Lake — 12 inches
Condon — 12 inches
Missoula — 5.5 inches
Ovando — 11.5 inches
Noxon — 10.6 inches
Thompson Falls — 9.5 inches
Trout Creek — 8.5 inches
Arlee — 6 inches
Source: National Weather Service