Distinctly Montana Magazine

28 D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 2 4 - 2 5 MT log homes 1/3h Montana's newest national re- cord was established on October 25, 2020. According to the Missou- la NWS office, the overnight low (-29°F) at Potomac was the coldest temperature ever reported "at an of- ficial climate site anywhere in the [contiguous] United States so early in the season." These data raise an obvious question: Why do extreme winter weather events occur with such frequency and ferocity in Mon- tana? Among contributing factors, three are particularly note- worthy. Unlike mountain ranges in Europe and Asia, the Rockies' north-to-south orientation poses no impediment to the collision of Arctic air from the north and tropical air masses from the south. Consequently, Dr. Dewey concludes that the ingredients for "vi- olent and rapidly changing weather conditions are brought into direct conflict throughout the year, [which makes] the Western United States the world leader in many types of severe weather." Meteorologist Mike Heard notes that our proximity to the Pa- cific Northwest "places Montana relatively close to the [cross- hairs of storms that emanate from] the Pacific Ocean and Gulf of Alaska." Rick Dittmann, a meteorologist formerly stationed at Great Falls, emphasizes the position of the mid-latitude jet stream, the "highway upon which storms are usually transported, [as] largely responsible for the extreme weather" that is a hallmark of Mon- tana winters. The Rocky Mountain Front is unquestionably the epicenter at which these climate drivers most frequently produce outbursts of extreme winter weather. In his masterpiece, This House of Sky, Ivan Doig recounts the awe, respect, and foreboding that he initially experienced upon relocation to this area: "In front of us now loomed the reef-line of the entire continent, where the surf of weather broke and came flooding across. [B]oth of us knew what could be ahead when full winter poured down off these north peaks." Given the multitude of extreme weather events that are chroni- cled in the annals of Montana history, another intriguing question comes to mind. Were such events more common and even more severe during the Little Ice Age, which arguably was the coolest and wettest period since the end of the Pleistocene? That ques- tion cannot be answered definitively. However, for readers whose curiosity may be piqued by this topic, stay tuned. I am currently preparing a manuscript on the environmental and cultural impact of the Little Ice Age (ca. 1500-1850) in Montana. F rom "Cabins to Estates" the craftsmen at Montana Log Homes have been handcrafting custom log homes nationwide since 1983. Creative inspiration comes naturally in this mountain country. By preserving the spirit of the Old West, using handcrafting techniques handed down from our pioneer forefathers, we cre- ate homes as unique and beautiful as the wilderness from which they came. SPECIALIZING IN EXCELLENCE SINCE 1983 THE Handcrafted ALTERNATIVE 406-752-2992 Email: info@montanaloghomes.com 3250 US Highway 93 South Kalispell, Montana 59901 We invite you to visit our office/showhome or visit us on our website at: montanaloghomes.com UNLIKE MOUNTAIN RANGES IN EUROPE AND ASIA, THE ROCKIES' NORTH-TO-SOUTH ORIENTATION POSES NO IMPEDIMENT TO THE COLLISION OF ARCTIC AIR FROM THE NORTH AND TROPICAL AIR MASSES FROM THE SOUTH.

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