After assessing the aftermath of a dramatic Dec. 17 windstorm that brought 70 mph valley gusts and left 31,000 Flathead Electric Cooperative members without power — an extreme weather event intensified by a potent atmospheric river that brought inches of rain to the Northern Rockies — Flathead County officials say much of the remaining blowdown cleanup likely won’t resume until the spring.
While the raging rivers and multi-day power outage that many residents experienced nearly a month ago might feel like a distant memory, the destructive winds and widespread flooding across the state rendered the county’s gravel roads into ice-skating rinks.
“It was a very odd December – that’s the best I’m gonna tell you,” Flathead County Public Works Director Dave Prunty said at a Jan. 6 Flathead County Board of County Commissioner’s meeting. “Winter operations certainly occurred. We were out plowing, we were out sanding, but as you know, the amount of warm weather and rains we got were rather fascinating. I can’t remember a November and a December like this.”
Prunty told commissioners that precipitation last year was about 2 inches above the average of 16.5 inches at Glacier Park International Airport.
The moisture brought by the December rains fell on top of an ice floor that had already developed over many of the county’s gravel roads, which Prunty said formed “an ice-skating rink real quick.”
“The North Fork is extremely rough right now – extremely rough,” Prunty said.
Following the windstorm, Prunty said his crews worked with Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) and Flathead National Forest firefighting personnel to fire up chains saws and help clear the North Fork Road, which was accessible within the following days.
Prunty said burn piles have been established but excavation work is required for the remaining blowdown, which can’t be operated on the North Fork Road in its current slippery state and will have to wait until the springtime.
“It seems to be more of a fact of life in northwest Montana with these rains instead of snow in the wintertime,” Prunty said. “It’s been interesting for sure.”
In other county business, Commissioner Pam Holmquist on Jan. 6 passed the torch as chair of the commission to Brad Abell, who will serve in that role throughout 2026. Commissioner Randy Brodehl will serve as vice chair.
“It’s always a pleasure to serve in this capacity,” Holmquist said.
I’m Maggie Dresser, here to serve today’s Daily Roundup.
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