Winter should arrive with a vengeance this week

Snow lovers will rejoice. Travelers, not so much. Winter will return in a big way this week, the National Weather Service is saying.

A winter storm watch is in effect for the Flathead Valley and Glacier National Park with heavy snow and high winds expected from late Monday through Wednesday.

Places like West Glacier have a 99 percent chance of seeing at least a half foot of snow and an 88 percent chance of a foot or more, noted National Weather Service Meteorologist LeeAnn Allegretto. Ditto for Polebridge. East of the Divide will also see heavy snow, with higher terrain — places like Marias Pass — getting as much as three feet, while places like St. Mary, East Glacier and Browning seeing a foot or more as the storm taps Pacific moisture.

Kalispell will see at least three to four inches, but could see as much as 12 to 18 inches in the first round of snow through Wednesday.

The good news for travelers is the bulk of snow should stay north of Interstate 90.

After the first storm blows through, another round of snow and cold will arrive Thursday into Friday, with sustained winds of 30 mph and gusts up to 50 mph as cold air with roots in Siberia spills over the Divide. Temperatures will tumble into the single digits to low teens for highs by Friday with lows at or below zero. But the snow should be over by Saturday.

The snow will also ramp up the avalanche danger, which was already rated at considerable.

After a cold, snowy start to November, this winter has been relatively tame. There was just a skiff of snow at valley levels in most locations, with freezing rain falling Sunday.

Christmas Eve into Christmas Day will continue to be cold, with highs in the single digits and lows below zero each day.