Happy shoulder season, Beacon readers! Maggie Dresser here, and we’ve returned to another bleh day in the Flathead Valley following some rare vitamin D exposure yesterday. Unless you hunt or you’re going hard for Brawl of the Wild in Missoula this weekend, there’s not much going on in northwest Montana right now — besides waiting for the seasons change — and that includes the inspiration in this reporter’s brain today. So, I’m here to relay the weather report.
Morning fog will round out the week in northwest Montana, which the National Weather Service has highlighted IN ALL CAPS to emphasize the potential driving hazards of reduced visibility on that morning commute tomorrow. Speed reductions, use of low-beam headlights and maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles is recommended.
Defined as a “fast-moving wind current surrounded by slower moving air,” the jet will change its position in response to a trough of low pressure and associated cold front, bringing a “breezy system.” Winds along the Continental Divide could gust up to 50 mph while Marias Pass on U.S. Highway 2 might even see 6 inches of snow.
And now the weather report everyone’s been waiting for — the Thanksgiving travel forecast.
Meteorologists expect seasonable temperatures and dry conditions with a few light mountain snow showers and an “evolving pattern.” Travelers should monitor updates and shifts in the jet stream for unsettled weather that might show up on Black Friday — a busy travel day. Yikes.
In the high country, forecasters with the Flathead Avalanche Center say there’s about 2 feet of snow above 7,000 feet in the Whitefish, Swan and Flathead ranges following a storm that brought wet moisture to the mountains, according to a Tuesday update from avalanche specialist Guy Zoellner.
“Ughh, last week’s unseasonably warm storm laid waste to our budding snowpack,” Zoellner wrote in Tuesday’s forecast.
In the low country, the storm also contributed to a rise in the region’s rivers with flows seeing well above-average levels on the Three Forks Flathead River system.
On Friday night, the Middle Fork (pictured above) rose from 928 cubic feet per second (cfs) to nearly 4,000 cfs within 48 hours while levels have hovered around 3,000 cfs over the last few days — flows that are typically seen in the early spring and mid-summer. By comparison, the median flow for Nov. 20 is 827 cfs.
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This holiday season, celebrate the spirit of our community by shopping local. Every purchase you make from a neighborhood business helps support local jobs, families, and the unique character that makes the Flathead Valley such a special place to call home. From thoughtful gifts to festive experiences, our local shops have everything you need to make the season bright. Here’s some information on how to keep it local this holiday season.
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