Winter storm dumps a foot of snow on Flathead

Blowing and drifting snow with reduced visibility plagued Northwest Montana travelers Sunday morning as a major winter storm swept through the region.

The Montana Department of Transportation reported widespread snow totals of 10-12 inches from the storm, including along U.S. 93 from Kalispell to Eureka, and along Montana 40 from Whitefish to Columbia Falls.

Severe driving conditions were hampering many areas early Sunday. Wind gusts between 30-45 mph were clocked in the northern Flathead Valley and along the Continental Divide, creating areas of blowing and drifting snow.

According to the National Weather Service in Missoula, Essex tallied the most snowfall in the storm. The tiny mountain town on the southern border of Glacier Park picked up 18 inches. Other snowfall totals included: Evergreen 5-10 inches, Libby 6-10 inches, Bigfork 10-14 inches, Hungry Horse 12 inches, Somers 10 inches, Whitefish 12 inches, Columbia Falls 12 inches, Kalispell 12 inches, Rollins 10 inches, Plains 5 inches and Rexford 12 inches.

Most mountain locations picked up 20 inches of snow, the Flathead Avalanche Center reported Sunday. Avalanche danger in the Whitefish and Flathead ranges was rated at considerable at all elevations.

Whitefish Mountain Resort reported 12 inches of new snow overnight Sunday, upping the settled base to 146 inches at the summit of Big Mountain. Gusting winds and cold temperature kept the resort from open its main lift to the summit for the day. However, all of the lower mountain lifts were open by 11 a.m.

An Arctic front was expected to usher in some of the coldest temperatures of the winter overnight Monday, the Weather Service warned.

Most of western Montana will be below zero, with thermometer readings expected to dip to about minus 20 in the Flathead. Wind chill values could be as low as minus 30.

Temperatures should slightly rebound Tuesday with highs in the teens and lows below zero.