Glasgow, MT – The National Weather Service (NWS) Glasgow has issued a warning for significant icing across portions of northeast Montana beginning at noon Wednesday and lasting through noon Thursday.
Forecasters report moderate to high confidence in freezing rain developing this afternoon, resulting in ice accumulations between 0.10 and 0.15 inches across Phillips, Valley, Roosevelt, and McCone counties — including Whitewater, Malta, and Glasgow.
Even these modest amounts of ice can have serious impacts, leading to power outages, downed tree branches, and nearly impassable roads. The NWS warns that travel could quickly become hazardous or impossible, especially on untreated highways and rural routes.
Motorists are urged to avoid non-essential travel during the event and to prepare for potential extended power interruptions. Residents should ensure flashlights, batteries, and emergency supplies are accessible in case outages occur overnight.
Forecasters note that freezing rain may persist through Thursday morning before gradually tapering off by midday as temperatures rise slightly above freezing. However, any untreated surfaces — including sidewalks, driveways, and overpasses — will remain slick and dangerous well into Thursday afternoon.
Drivers who must travel should exercise extreme caution, maintain extra distance between vehicles, and be prepared for black ice and limited visibility.
The NWS emphasizes that small changes in temperature could shift where the heaviest icing occurs. Updates will continue through the event at weather.gov/ggw and via NOAA Weather Radio.
