Blizzard, sub-zero temps expected in Flathead

A blizzard is expected starting Friday night (Dec. 12) and running into Saturday for the greater Glacier National Park area and the Flathead Valley.

According to the National Weather Service, snow should start Friday night through Saturday with valley locations seeing 6 to 8 inches and up to 20 inches of snow in the mountains.

A cold front will bring frigid air and winds from 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 45 mph. Lows Saturday night are expected to plummet to 15 to 22 below zero with wind chills from 40 to 50 below.

The cold will last well into next week. Monday lows could drop to 20 to 27 below, particularly if it clears out at night, meteorologist Peter Felsch said during a conference call Friday.

Lows through Wednesday are expected to be from four below to 11 below though the wind should taper off by Monday. Highs will be in the single digits.