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by Whitefish Pilot
| February 6, 2017 8:52 AM

Blowing snow and icy roads impacted travel throughout the Flathead Valley Monday morning.

The Montana Department of Transportation reports that U.S. Highway 93 through Whitefish is snow covered. According to the department’s website, Montana 40 between Whitefish and Columbia Falls also remains snow covered.

A winter storm warning remains in effect until 11 p.m. The National Weather Service issued the warning saying very heavy snow will cause treacherous driving conditions with blowing and drifting snow.

Due to the extreme snowfall and severe weather forecast, the Whitefish School District Sunday afternoon announced a district-wide closure for Monday.

“Safe travel of our students is paramount,” Superintendent Heather Davis Schmidt said in a prepared release. “We appreciate everyone understanding.”

Driving conditions also caused Meals on Wheels to cancel meal delivery in Flathead County.

The transportation department issued a “severe driving” warning for U.S. 2 from West Glacier to the junction with Montana 40 and along Montana 206 south from Columbia Falls to Woody’s gas station.

U.S. 2 is closed from West Glacier to East Glacier, according to the department’s website. The road was closed after snowdrifts blocked the highway at mile marker 180. Crew were working to clear the highway.

The Flathead Avalanche Center issued a backcountry avalanche warning until 7 a.m. Feb. 7 for the Whitefish, Swan, Flathead ranges and southern Glacier National Park.

The center noted “extreme” avalanche danger above 6,000 feet, meaning human-triggered and natural avalanches are certain. Below 6,000 feet, avalanche danger is rate “high.”

“The avalanche danger will rise to high today on all aspects and elevations,” the center notes. “Recent heavy snow combined with wind will create widespread areas of unstable snow.”

The center recommends against entering backcountry areas prone to avalanches until the warning is lifted.

For more information on the avalanche danger, visit http://www.flatheadavalanche.org.