First hard storm hits the area as Christmas turns white, cold

A winter storm out of Canada descended on Western Montana on Monday, Dec. 18, with additional storms hitting the area over the next week.

Alberton school bus driver Clay Acker found himself sliding off the road up Petty Creek early Tuesday morning.

He said he hit the gravel portion on Bill’s Creek Road and it was glare ice. Several people stopped to help, only to find themselves stuck. The group had to wait about 20 minutes for the gravel truck to go by before they could continue driving. There were no students on the bus at the time.

By Wednesday, storms moved into the area and caused schools to be canceled or delayed including Columbia Falls, Deer Park, West Glacier and Whitefish. With more snow and cold reported for the holiday weekend, temperatures were also reported to drop to 22 below in Butte and minus 16 degrees in Polebridge on Sunday.

Whitefish Mountain Resort officials said 28 inches of snow fell during the storms last week, bringing the total to 57 inches. Officials said the storms put the slope in good shape for a Christmas opening.

Missoula’s Montana Snowbowl is opening new runs daily. Officials report 54 inches at the summit and 36 inches at the base.

Thursday was the winter solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year. Along with the solstice, some flights were delayed and other canceled at the Bozeman and Missoula airports.

Last week was also a busy one for Montana Highway troopers as 41 traffic accidents were reported between Dec. 18 and Dec. 21, 41 accidents.