Kalispell snaps rainless streak; mountain snow in the forecast
MATT BALDWIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 years, 5 months AGO
A farmer uses a combine to harvest crops along Lower Valley Road. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Matt Baldwin is regional editor for Hagadone Media Montana. He is a graduate of the University of Montana's School of Journalism. He can be reached at 406-758-4447 or [email protected]. | September 24, 2020 12:00 PM
Kalispell’s rainless streak finally ended this week after 21 consecutive days of dry weather.
On Tuesday, 0.05 inches of precipitation was recorded at the National Weather Service station at Glacier Park International Airport, marking the first measurable rainfall since Aug. 31.
More than an inch of rain is typically recorded by this time in September, according to the Weather Service’s climate data.
Overall, it was a very dry summer for the area. August saw three days of rain totaling 0.29 inches, while July had only two days of measurable rainfall totaling 0.37 inches.
However, thanks to an unusually wet June the area’s year-to-date precipitation total is just slightly behind average at 12.09 inches.
A big shift in the weather is expected through the weekend, with on-and-off rain showers across the entire region. Light snow is possible in the higher terrain above 6,500 feet.
“It wouldn't be surprising to see a layer of new snow up high over the weekend,” the Weather Service stated in its daily forecast Thursday.
Temperatures in the valley will range from lows in the 30s to highs in the 60s.
The Weather Service noted that the extended forecast points to an “Indian summer” pattern of dry and warm days with cool nights.
“The ridge axis will align over the Pacific coast and this could bode well for keeping wildfire smoke away,” the forecast added.
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