Wait Seven Minutes and the Weather Will Change

I saw many bizarre things during my time at the University of Montana in Missoula, but none as eclectic as the day I watched an earthy looking girl riding a long board down a sidewalk while playing her guitar.   While unusual by itself, this picture was made even more striking by the backdrop: the sun had forced its way through the clouds and was shining on this girl, while at the same time; snow cascaded down on her from another direction.  This is a great snap-shot of Montana’s weather.  It can do many things at once and is constantly changing. 

If Mother Nature does control Montana’s weather, she has a multiple personality disorder, is temperamental and seems to enjoy putting Montana in the record books for rapid temperature change.  Montana holds the world record for the largest temperature change in a 24 hour period (a 103 degree change).  On January 15, 1972 the temperature went from -54 to +49 in a 24-hour period in Loma, Montana.  Montana also holds the record for the greatest 12 hour temperature change in the US (an 84 degree change).  The difference between Montana’s record high (117) and record low (-70) is also the greatest of all 50 states.  The warm winds, known as Chinooks, are the primary instigator of most of these rapid changes.

But what about the Montana saying “don’t like the weather? Wait ten minutes and it will change”? This saying probably came from January 11^th 1980, when the Great Falls International Airport went from a temperature of -32 degrees to +15 degrees in seven minutes!! 

In the Flathead Valley, this has been a bizarre fall and early winter in terms of weather.  We've had one major cold snap, low snowfall and buckets of rain, oh and let’s not forget about the earthquakes!  But in a way it’s normal that it has been weird.  This is life in Montana and this is life in the Flathead and Glacier Country.  If you’re willing to be flexible it can be tons of fun.  So be prepared for anything, always grab your winter coat and your speedo before hitting the road and remember: if you don’t like the weather, wait seven minutes and it could change 47 degrees! 

Why You Shouldn't Hibernate During Winter in the Flathead Valley

Is winter water-skiing really that unpopular?  Do some tourists, like bears, hibernate during the winter? If you walk into our hotel lobby anytime from mid-June to mid-September, you will probably find two front desk agents checking guests in, giving directions to restaurants or attractions and answering a phone that seems to never stop ringing.  If you walk in now, you might catch us doing laundry or cleaning because we have more time and no full-time laundry person in the winter.  With the exception of a few weekends, when our Canadian friends come down to shop, the whole valley is pretty slow.  Even Whitefish, with its world class ski resort is only busy from Christmas to New Years and then returns back to a steady, but not crazy hum. 

You might wonder why the Flathead Valley slows down so much during the winter.  Is it because the temperature is below 0 from October to April?  Is it because snowmobiling is the only option for transportation during Montana winters? There are a few valid reasons: Going-to-the-Sun road closes in September, Montana is harder to get to in the winter, the water in the lakes and rivers is too cold to be in (except during the polar plunge) and there is a lack of sunlight in the winter.  While these might be valid reasons not to come, there are a myriad of reasons to come specifically in winter!  PS: While Going-to-the-Sun road is closed, Glacier National Park never closes and amazing views can be had just by driving in to Lake McDonald. 

Things-to-Do:  There are pond hockey tournaments, free ice skating rinks, wolf hunting opportunities, cross country skiing areas, sledding hills, back country skiing adventures and some of the best resort skiing in the US! If you are looking for something a little less active, but still fun, try snowmobiling, ice fishing, dog sledding and going to the numerous winter festivals.  Yes, you might have to buck up and buy some warmer clothes, but you will find it worth the investment because of all the new activities you will be able to enjoy. 

Prices and People: Gas is always cheaper in the winter, so are hotel rooms and many other winter activities are quite cheap if you have the basic equipment.  Plus, there are fewer people, making restaurants, stores and everything else less crowded.  Not only are there less tourists, everyone you interact with is in a more laid back mood, from the waitress at the Tamarack to the lifty at the ski hill.  Our “Summer Show” is over, we are having fun and we are not afraid to share it with you.

Relax: If you come during the summer, you have seen families on bucket-list-missions!  I have had guests in summer almost livid that the road was not open to Logan Pass yet and they won’t be able to check that one off their list.  The very nature of our winter dictates that weather might ruin your agenda driven vacation and this is probably a good thing.  Some days might be perfect for sipping a beer at one of our local breweries and then finishing a book in front of a roaring fire, others might be blue-bird ski days that you’d be a fool to miss.  Sometimes people need to actually relax on vacations and enjoy each moment, rather than rushing from one great moment to the next.

So buy some warm clothes, put some cheap gas in your car and get over here because here in the Flathead Valley, we know how to do winter!  (Just don’t tell too many friends, we don’t want people to think winter is actually fun or something ridiculous like that).

Written by Matt Harrington

Marketing and Front Desk

Best Western Plus Flathead Lake Inn and Suites

4824 Highway 93 South

Kalispell, MT 59901

Looking for a place to stay near Flathead Lake?  Check out: http://www.bestwesternflatheadlake.com/  we also have comprehensive lists of things to do and places to eat!