BOZEMAN – Warm and dry weather Friday afternoon will be ending abruptly by Saturday afternoon as a new Alberta Clipper drops down into Montana.
Ahead of the front warm and windy Saturday afternoon, along the front rain or snow with some pockets of freezing rain and gusty winds, behind the front scattered snow and colder temperatures.
Impacts will begin along the hi-line Saturday afternoon and reach southern Montana by Sunday morning. Greatest impacts will be along and north of I-90. Greatest travel concerns will be areas of freezing rain changing to snow will produce extremely icy road surfaces along with sidewalks, parking lots etc.
WINTER WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS
The National Weather Service issued a WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY for most of central and northern Montana from 6 pm Saturday to 3 am Monday east of the divide.
Snow accumulations of 1”-3” for most valleys and mountains 3”-6” is possible with this storm.
Wind gusts 40+ mph is possible.
Freezing rain is possible.
The National Weather Service has a WINTER STORM WATCH up for the Butte/Blackfoot region Sunday morning through Sunday evening.
Forecast confidence is low now on impacts in the Butte region, hence, the watch. This winter storm watch will most likely be upgraded to a winter weather advisory sometime Saturday.
Regardless of the highlight statement, impacts will be the same with areas of rain changing to snow, pockets of freezing rain, and wind gusts up to 40 mph. Snow is also possible by Sunday evening.
I-90 and US 12 could become very icy in the Butte region up over MacDonald Pass, Georgetown Lake, Homestake Pass.
TRAVEL CONCERNS
Starting Sunday morning through Monday morning plan on hazardous travel conditions along and north of I-90, including Butte and Bozeman through Billings.
Mixed precipitation and a rapid temperature drop will produce extremely icy roads both in-town and over all area highways and interstates.
Lesser impacts are likely in the Dillon to West Yellowstone line Sunday morning but look for possible mixed precipitation to occur Sunday afternoon and evening which will produce very icy roads by Monday morning.
