Page 20 - Flathead Beacon // 1.7.15

20 | JANUARY 7, 2015
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safely away from plows clearing the roads. To allow crews to remove snow berms in downtown streets, the City of Kalispell asked that drivers avoid park- ing on Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth streets east and Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth streets west on Jan. 5. The fol- lowing day, crews cleared the avenues.
The Kalispell Fire Department is also asking homeowners to clear fire hy- drants in their neighborhoods to ensure that emergency crews can locate the hy- drants in case of a fire.
“We are asking that you help us help you by keeping the fire hydrant closest to your residence or business clear of snow,” Fire Chief Dave Dedman said in a news release.
Snow should be removed approxi- mately 3 feet away from the hydrant in all directions and a pathway cleared be- tween the hydrant and the nearest road- way, Dedman said.
The NWS issued a winter storm warning for the region, predicting con- sistent snowfall and difficult travel con- ditions. Meteorologists said heavy snow conditions could occur after tempera- tures warm into the 30s and very strong westerly winds at ridge-top are expected along the Continental Divide. Blowing and drifting snow could be an issue for Marias Pass and MacDonald Pass.
The Flathead Avalanche Center re- ported high avalanche danger in the Whitefish, Swan and Flathead ranges and the southern portion of Glacier Park. Natural and human triggered storm and wind slabs were likely, according to ex- perts. Avalanches involving a persistent weak layer 2 to 5 feet deep were possible with this new, rapid load. Avalanches in- volving this layer could be large and de- structive.
Meanwhile, skiers at Whitefish Mountain Resort enjoyed an abundant powder day on Monday. Roughly 3,600 skiers hit the mountain after 9 inches of fresh snow was reported from the previ- ous night.
“It was a good day,” Resort spokes- person Riley Polumbus said.
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SNOW
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according to the National Weather Ser- vice. It was the most snowfall over 48 hours since 2009, when almost 24 inch- es fell in early January.
Over 30 inches of snow covered Co- lumbia Falls, Essex and West Glacier earlier this week. While Kalispell re- ceived up to 1 inch of snow per hour, the region around Glacier National Park was receiving upwards of 2 inches per hour. Another 10 inches was expected from late Jan. 5 through Jan. 6 in the West Glacier area, meteorologists projected.
Creston received just under 20 inch- es and Whitefish received 14 inches from Sunday through Monday. Both Troy and Polson received 12 inches.
City road crews worked relent- lessly from midnight through Monday afternoon, trying to keep up with the constant wintry deluge while business owners tried to keep their storefronts clear. A half dozen shops in downtown Kalispell closed for the day due to the severe weather, including the Imagin- eIf Library, while schools enjoyed an extended Christmas break, canceling classes from Bigfork to Whitefish. Ea- gle Transit shut down its buses for the day and were waiting out the storm late Monday.
State highway crews and emergency responders stayed busy responding to downed trees, snow slides and accidents that plagued the region’s roads, includ- ing a semitrailer that spun out 5 miles south of Bigfork, blocking a lane of traf- fic on Montana Highway 35 for almost an hour. Local law enforcement respond- ed to consistent calls of vehicles being stuck or marooned across the valley.
“We’re urging people to use caution and not travel unless they absolutely need to,” Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry said.
“It’s going to get worse before it gets better,” he added. “Driving conditions continue to deteriorate even though the plows are doing their best to keep up.”
City officials urged residents to keep sidewalks cleared of snow and to stay
Allyson Bush shovels her car out with her sons Robbie and Wyatt. GREG LINDSTROM | FLATHEAD BEACON