No local records broken in cold snap

While temperatures in the Flathead plummeted over the weekend, no records were broken at Glacier Park International Airport.

The temperature dipped to 14 below zero on Dec. 9. The record was 20 below in 1972. On Dec. 8, it dropped to 13 below, but the record set in 2005 was 19 below. On Dec. 7, it dropped to 4 below, but the record, also set in 2005, was 16 below.

Temperatures elsewhere were much colder than in the valley. The temperature in Polebridge dipped to 30 below on Dec. 7, 23 below on Dec. 8 and a comparatively balmy 6 below on Dec. 9.

On the east side of the Park, the temperature was 26 below on Dec. 6, 34 below on Dec. 7, 1 below on Dec. 8 and 3 degrees above on Dec. 9.

The weather is expected to warm substantially by the end of the week, with highs at or above freezing by week’s end.

The National Weather Service in Missoula forecasts that snowfall is anticipated to intensify Monday night as another disturbance moves through the Northern Rockies. They forecast large flakes will fall, which will cause higher snow ratios.

The heaviest snow is expected across Flathead, Lake and Missoula counties. Confidence is high that the Bigfork and Swan Lake to Seeley Lake, Hungry Horse to Marias Pass area could receive 4 to 6 inches of snow tonight.

The Flathead and Mission valleys could receive 2 to 4 inches, with higher amounts around the lake. Mountains could receive up to a foot of new snow from this disturbance.