An inch of snow an hour

A major winter storm dumped as much as an inch of snow an hour as it swept across the Flathead Valley on Sunday and continues into Tuesday.

The snow started in earnest the evening of Jan. 4. By the next morning, more than a foot covered the ground with more coming down. Schools were closed across the valley, and Glacier National Park closed its offices.

The snow was caused by a “Pineapple Express,” according to National Weather Service meteorologist Genki Kino. A plume of moisture originating from Hawaii was flowing over the Pacific Northwest. With arctic air still trapped at the surface levels, the precipitation was falling as snow.

Further south in Missoula, Kino said, the snow had changed to freezing rain. Columbia Falls could easily see more than two feet after the storm has run its course, while places like West Glacier could see three to four feet of snow.

The weather should calm by Wednesday, with fog a possibility, Kino said. A few weak disturbances could roll in by Friday and Saturday, with temperatures in the 20s.

Last week saw very cold temperatures but clear skies. On Dec. 30, the temperature dropped to 16 below zero in West Glacier and 27 below zero in Polebridge.