Schools across the Flathead Valley preemptively canceled classes for Thursday in anticipation of a major winter storm expected to hit the region overnight Wednesday.

Flathead County Sheriff Brian Heino met with school district superintendents Wednesday and advised all Flathead County schools to close out of an abundance of caution. After-school activities were also canceled.

Blizzard and high wind warnings were issued for the valley, with gusts up to 70 mph possible through Thursday. Damaging winds were expected to blow down trees and power lines, causing widespread outages.

The greatest impacts will focus across Lincoln and Flathead counties and the high terrain, the National Weather Service in Missoula warned.

Along with wind, the prolonged atmospheric river event was on track to dump feet of snow on western Montana mountains.

“The worst conditions and impacts will be felt across the Glacier Park region, specifically on U.S. 2 east of West Glacier to Marias Pass and in the higher terrain, where several hours of whiteout conditions are expected,” the Weather Service warned.

On Marias Pass, snow rates of an inch an hour, coupled with 50 mph winds, are probable as the storm hits.

The atmospheric river will continue to bring heavy mountain snow through Saturday. Some areas could be buried in up to 5 feet of powder, with the bull’s-eye on the Montana-Idaho border and the Glacier Park areas.

Valley snow amounts vary, with anywhere from 1 to 10 inches possible.