School closures and power outages add to weather woes

The weather took a radical change of direction last week, causing havoc around western Montana, including Mineral County. The week started with temperatures dipping into the freezing range and heavy snowfall. By Thursday, temperatures rose up to 44 degrees with rain, causing wide spread snow melt which resulted in flooding.

Interstate 90 between St. Regis and Lookout Pass took the brunt of the severe weather starting with several inches of accumulated snow fall, as much as two to three feet in places. When temperatures warmed up later in the week, the highway flooded causing a complete shutdown for several hours on Thursday.

On Monday, Feb. 6, snow accumulation and icy roads were a recipe for disaster with five crashes reported involving five semi-trucks and a passenger vehicle near Lookout Pass. All within 100 yards of each other, which subsequently blocked westbound lanes early in the day. By Monday afternoon, three more crashes at mile marker 10 near the Saltese overpass were reported by the Montana Highway Patrol, no injuries were reported.

Other parts of the western region suffered severe weather conditions, as well. A series of storms blanketed the Flathead Valley starting on Friday, Feb. 3 and lasting until Monday, Feb. 6. Reports of approximately 20 inches of snow fell in Columbia Falls and 64 inches at St. Mary. The blizzard conditions forced schools and sections of U.S. Highway 2 to close. Even Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway and Amtrak temporarily closed services in sections due to avalanches and avalanche danger.

There was more than three feet of snow in areas when temperatures began to rise on Thursday, causing weather related issues to arise. The heavy snow began to topple trees onto power lines. Montana Snowbowl ski area located north of Missoula, closed on Thursday morning due to a power outage. A power line snapped when a heavy, snow covered tree fell onto power lines.

The outage not only closed the area to skiing for the day, but it also affected approximately 34 customers and some radio and television towers, according to Northwestern Energy. Several local stations were affected as well because they relied on those towers for their signals. Repairs were made by Friday and the ski area was back in business.

Bonner, east of Missoula, also lost power to about 400 Northwestern Energy customers because of trees falling onto power lines. Their power was restored by Thursday afternoon. On Thursday morning, around 11 a.m., Interstate 90 was closed for both east and westbound traffic due to standing water from Lookout Pass to St. Regis. According to Steve Felix with the Montana Department of Transportation, up to three feet of water was reported. The area received heavy rainfall and snow melt. Felix said the main cause was the rain. Culverts were snow covered and unable to drain the excess water causing most of the flooding.

The highway was closed for 12 hours, from around 10 a.m. until 10 p.m., as the maintenance department removed snow and ice from the roadsides, clearing the drains. Drivers were limited on detour options. One was to get off at St. Regis and take Montana Highway 135 to Highway 200 in Paradise. Then, west to Sanders County up to Sandpoint, Idaho. The other option was to head to Missoula and take Highway 93 south through the Bitterroot and over Lost Trail Pass. Then continue south toward Salmon, Idaho.

Felix said several vehicles in the westbound lane diverted through St. Regis, but most of the east bound traffic on the other side of Lookout Pass remained in place until the roads reopened. Once enough water was removed from the road, traffic was able to resume, single-lane in some areas.

Conditions continued to be unstable Friday morning. St. Regis cancelled classes because of black ice. Also, the Department of Transportation urged drivers to use caution between Lookout Pass and St. Regis due to standing water. By Friday afternoon, temperatures began to moderate with highs in the upper 30’s and lows in the 20’s. Sunday was mostly sunny with temperatures remaining in the 30’s with night time lows in the upper teens. This pleasant weather will continue through the first part of the week.