Storm levels trees, knocks out power

A winter storm packed with heavy snow and wind blasted the north Flathead Valley Friday night, leaving many without power and causing damage in Glacier National Park.

Trees fell on some 20 structures in the housing area near Glacier Park headquarters. No injuries were reported, but most of the park was closed Saturday after the storm.

Snow accumulation on the east side of the park was 2 feet at St. Mary and 18-20 inches at East Glacier.

More than 9,000 Flathead Electric Co-op members from West Glacier to Columbia Falls and Libby were without power on Saturday. The outages were blamed on trees falling on power lines.

Temperatures in the Flathead plummeted as the arctic front pushed through. The temperature at Glacier Park International Airport dropped from 41 at midnight on Saturday to single digits by 8 a.m. Wind chill values were at minus 20 on Saturday morning.

A warm up is expected by the end of this week as temperature could rise above freezing by Friday.