Browning, Montana – Drivers along the Rocky Mountain Front could face rapidly worsening travel conditions Thursday evening as a powerful multi-day snowstorm begins sweeping across north-central Montana. Heavy snow combined with extreme wind gusts nearing 95 mph may trigger widespread blowing snow and sharply reduced visibility from Thursday night through Saturday.
According to the National Weather Service in Great Falls, a Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect until 3 p.m. Thursday for areas along the Northern and Southern High Plains, where up to 2 inches of snow and dangerous winds could impact travel early. A stronger Winter Storm Warning then takes effect at 6 p.m. Thursday and continues until 6 p.m. Saturday.
Communities including Browning, Choteau, Pendroy, Dupuyer and Heart Butte could see between 6 and 15 inches of snow during the storm. The strongest impacts are expected along the foothills and plains adjacent to the Rocky Mountain Front, where high winds may create severe blowing snow and near-whiteout conditions at times.
Additional snow totals of 3 to 6 inches are expected across nearby counties including Glacier, Toole, Pondera, Chouteau and Blaine, with some areas of southern Chouteau County approaching 10 inches during the prolonged event.
Motorists traveling on U.S. Highway 89, U.S. Highway 2, and rural routes near Shelby, Cut Bank and Fort Benton should prepare for snow-covered roads and sudden visibility drops. Montana Department of Transportation officials advise checking the MDT road report or dialing 511 before traveling.
Snowfall may come in waves with occasional breaks, but hazardous travel could persist through Saturday evening as strong winds continue across the region. Additional updates and advisories are likely as the storm evolves.
