NWS graphic

NWS forecasters say an approaching system will send snow, and mixed rain and snow into the northwest corner of the state, impacting the area extending from Troy and Libby to Eureka, the Lower Clark Fork Valley and Lookout Pass, as well as the northern reaches of the Flathead Basin and Glacier National Park. 

The outlook is for the potential of wet, heavy snow on trees that could break limbs and cause some damage. NWS says snow may accumulate on Marias and Lookout passes. Forecasters say there's a potential for up to a couple of feet of snow along the Divide.

And even where the snow doesn't fall, most areas will receive heavy rain through Wednesday night. 

Elsewhere, NWS says locations across the rest of Western Montana and Southwest Montana will see periods of moderate to heavy rain. 

The Jefferson Lines bus caught fire Sunday evening as it was approaching Williston enroute from Minneapolis to Missoula. Company spokesman Kevin Pursey says the driver noticed the fire and was able to pull off the road, with all of the passengers getting off safely.

Pursey says the bus is a newer, 2005 model and was totally destroyed by the flames. He says all of the luggage stored in the cargo compartment was recovered although he couldn't say whether any personal possessions might have been lost inside the bus. 

The company always does pre-trip checks on its buses, as well as keeping logbooks and Pursey says there had been no indication of problems before the fire. He says Jefferson Lines and its insurance company will be investigating.  

Hikers found the body of 55-year old Robert Lee below the Our Ladies of the Rockies statue last Thursday. 

Investigators tell KXLF TV Lee apparently suffered from a broken hip or leg 7-to-10 days ago. Authorities are still trying to contact his relatives. 

Yosemite N.P. spokeswoman Kari Cobb says 38-year old Mason Robinson was about 2,300 up the famous Muir Wall when the rock came loose. She says Robinson was about 600' from the top, and was climbing in the lead position when the accident happened just after he was placing a "cam" behind the chunk of granite.

Cobb says fell to the end of his haul line, more than 200', and it wasn't immediately clear whether he struck a ledge or the rock wall on the way down. 

KRTV photo

KRTV reports the downpour led to several collisions and traffic problems. The National Weather Service had issued a Flood Advisory for the Great Falls region until 11:45 p.m. But the alert was canceled a few hours later. 

Betsy Palmer had been on the MSU staff since 2011- MSU photo

Betsy Palmer was leading a group of 16-honor students on a "Great Expeditions" trip. The slide happened while the group was trekking near a remote village site. None of the students were injured and arrangements are being made to get them back to Montana. 

"Betsy was a strong, spirited, amazing woman filled with graciousness and kindness for every person she met. She was a gifted and award-winning teacher, researcher, and scholar because she cared deeply about her students and was passionate about finding ways to promote their success and well-being throughout their college experiences. We have lost an incredible member of our department, our family, and our lives," said her friend and colleague, Jayne Downey, head of the MSU Department of Education.

Palmer taught statistics and research and had been at MSU for more than a decade. 

Robert Green was charged on Wednesday - KOMO TV photo

King County prosecutors have charged 26-year old Robert Thomas "Bobby" Green of Covington with second degree murder of the 16-year old boy, who had been visiting relatives in the area southeast of Seattle. Authorities have charged Green with punching and kicking the boy after the pair got into an argument last weekend. 

KOMO TV reports Green confronted the teen after he returned home from a night drinking, thinking he was a prowler. Prosecutors say the teen offered to sell Greene cocaine and the pair began fighting. Witnesses say Green went "crazy", punching the victim and kicking him in the face. Police found the boy's body a few hours later. 

Last weekend, authorities had merely said the victim was from Montana. But the Missoulian has finally confirmed the boy's identity as Tyler Parker of Elmo. 

The Salt Lake Tribune reports 49-year old David P. Hellrigel was riding along U.S. 191 about 15-miles north of Vernal when he crashed in an area known as "The Switchbacks". Utah Highway Patrol troopers say Hellrigel failed to make it around a curve and was thrown from the bike, striking a guardrail at the side of the road. 

Troopers say Hellrigel was wearing a helmet but died before emergency crews could reach the scene. 

Authorities are hoping to locate Jamie Finley, who abducted the girl from her home in Polson after assaulting her mother

Police say 2-year old Lillianah BigCrane was taken from a house on 9th Avenue East when suspect Jamie Finley entered the home, assaulted the girl's mother and took the child. They say Finley is under the influence of drugs or alcohol and the little girl is believed to be in danger. 

Authorities have asked people to be on the lookout for Finley, who is believed to be driving a tan, 2004 Dodge Durango, with Montana license #AYS416. Finley is described as 34-years old, 5' 6" tall and 170-pounds, wearing glasses. She is an American Indian. 

Lillianah is 2-feet tall and weighs 36-pounds with a cigarette burn scar on her forehead, and long hair with bangs. She was last seen wearing a "Hello Kitty" shift, with a "Dora" sweater and pink "Jordan" shoes. 

Anyone spotting the pair is asking to call 9-1-1 immediately. 

Clark Fork River east of Missoula

Rivers in the Northwest corner of the state continue to see the most runoff from the melting snowpack. Tuesday evening the National Weather Service extended the flood warning for the Flathead River at Columbia Falls, which crested at 14.4'. That's just above the newly-reset flood stage of 13.0', which had just been adjusted last week. 

NWS says the main stem of the Flathead should drop below the 13' flood stage by Wednesday afternoon. 

The Clark Fork River above Missoula continued to run high on Tuesday, but remains about 2-feet below flood stage. The Bitterroot was also running high but about 2-feet below flood stage near Victor.