Winter storm warning for Essex area, blizzard warning for East Glacier Park
Early season snow in the Snyder Basin of Glacier National Park in this file photo.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning above 4,000 feet from 5 p.m. Monday night to 11 a.m. Tuesday morning.
“The likelihood of major impacts from 6 to 10 inches or more of snow is 100 percent, and 10 to 18 inches of snow is 70 percent. With winds gusting as high as 45 mph,” the Weather Service is saying.
East of the divide, a blizzard warning has been issued for East Glacier Park starting at 1 p.m. Monday, with winds as high as 60 mph.
Snowfall amounts aren’t expected to be all that high in East Glacier, about 2 to 5 inches, but higher elevations could see 5 to 14 inches above 5,000 feet.
Travel over passes, like Marias Pass, should be treacherous.
Monday in Columbia Falls should start out with rain and snow and then transition to all rain later in the afternoon, then back to a rain/snow mix at night.
Tuesday should see snow, with 1 to 2 inches.
The snow likely won’t last in the valley, as Wednesday will be partly cloudy and Thursday and Friday mostly sunny, with highs about 40 Wednesday and the mid 40s Thursday and Friday.