WARNING: With This New Montana Storm, You’ll See 10+ Inches

By Tuesday night, several high elevation locations in Montana will be covered in snow from a classic, powerful Spring storm. Mountain passes and back country areas will be difficult to navigate with up to a foot of heavy, wet snow piling up.

Montana roads are busy as tourist season is already here and the first day of Summer is this Thursday. Lots of heavy, wet snow could make some of the most popular roads in Montana quite dangerous. Many visitors to Montana are not experienced drivers in snow or slushy conditions.

Some areas in Montana will experience snow or heavy rain only until Tuesday morning, where others might see inclement weather until Tuesday night. The weather warnings below are separated by Montana regions.

• A WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 AM TUESDAY.
• WHAT...Heavy snow expected.
• Total snow accumulations 1 to 4 inches Butte to Anaconda, 2 to 5 inches at Ovando, Georgetown Lake, Macdonald Pass, and Homestake Pass.
• 5 to 14 inches in the higher terrain.
• WHERE...Southwest Montana.
• WHEN...From midnight tonight to 6 AM Tuesday.
• IMPACTS...Backcountry travel will be very difficult.
• Snow on trees could cause breaking branches and power outages.
• There will be two periods of snow in the valleys, one Monday morning and the other Monday night.

• SNOW: Total snow accumulations of 2 to 5 inches Lolo Pass, Painted Rocks, Sula, Rock Creek
• 6 to 15 inches possible for the higher terrain in the Sapphire and Bitterroot ranges including Skalkaho Pass and Lost Trail Pass.
• WHERE...Lolo Pass and Highway 93 Sula to Lost Trail Pass.
• WHEN...From midnight tonight to 6 AM Tuesday.

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This storm could be quite impactful: snow, slush, wind, wind chill, and downed power lines are all very concerning. For areas that only receive a few inches of snow, tree limbs and some power lines will likely be impacted.

• A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM TUESDAY.
• WHAT...Heavy, wet snow. Additional snow accumulations up to 8 inches between 6000 and 8000 feet, with higher amounts possible over the highest terrain.
• WHERE...Big Belt, Bridger and Castle Mountains, Elkhorn and Boulder Mountains, Little Belt and Highwood Mountains, Gallatin and Madison County Mountains and Centennial Mountains, and Northwest Beaverhead County.
• WHEN...Until 6 PM Tuesday.
• IMPACTS...Travel could be difficult, especially on backcountry roads.
• Those in the backcountry should ensure they have appropriate knowledge and gear, and may want to consider alternate plans.
• The heavy, wet nature of snow can bring down tree limbs and power lines.
• ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Wind chill values will fall to as low as the teens above zero.
• A Winter Weather Advisory means that there is at least an 80% chance of minor impacts due to winter weather conditions during the advisory period.

This is an interesting period of stormy, Spring weather in Montana. Some areas of southwest Montana that generally get a LOT of snow aren't supposed to be the big snow winners with this front. For instance, the Beartooth Highway:

• A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM MONDAY AFTERNOON TO 6 PM TUESDAY FOR THE BEARTOOTH HIGHWAY.
• WHAT...Snow expected for the Beartooth Highway.
• Total snow accumulations of 1 to 4 inches.
• Winds gusting as high as 40 mph.
• WHERE...Absaroka/Beartooth Mountains.
• WHEN...From 3 PM Monday afternoon to 6 PM Tuesday.
• IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions.