Montana Alert: 12+ Inches Mountain Snow Possible By Saturday

Get ready for a round of significant snowfall followed by sub zero temperatures across dozens of Montana counties. Snow in the valleys could make driving conditions difficult, but the mountain passes could get well over a foot of fresh snow.

The storm watches vary a bit in duration but almost all of them speculate heavy snowfall in the higher elevations. According to the National Weather Service: "Recreation in the high country could be impacted by heavy accumulating snow. Travel could be very difficult to impossible at times."

THERE IS A WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING.
WHAT...Heavy snow possible.
Total possible snow accumulations of 5 to 8 inches at lower elevations, and 8 to 14 inches in the mountains.
WHERE...Portions of central, north central, and southwest Montana. Absaroka/Beartooth Mountains and Crazy Mountains. Southeastern Carbon county. Bighorn Canyon and Southern Big Horn county could see 5 to 10 inches in the higher elevations.
WHEN...From late Thursday night through Saturday morning.
IMPACTS...Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous.

This boils down to being prepared for a good Montana storm. If things pan out with significant snow, avoid being on the roads if you can. Travel is predicted to be difficult at times, so being one less car on the road is a great idea. A very large portion of the state is under some form of weather watch or advisory.

Double check your emergency kit in the car to make sure it's still fully stocked. Take a few minutes to check your headlights and wiper blades, along with washer fluid levels. If you're unsure about the health of your vehicle, definitely stay off the roads. Getting roadside assistance during a storm can take hours.