Blizzard warning covers large swath of Montana as feet of snow expected
By
Ryan Adamson, AccuWeather meteorologist
Published Nov 6, 2020 1:17 PM EDT
|
Updated Nov 8, 2020 6:36 PM EDT
Mother Nature decided to tease Montana with one last gasp of summer in November, but weather conditions have abruptly changed and now Big Sky Country seems to have plunged into the depths of winter. Friday's unusual warmth was replaced with blizzard conditions by Saturday night, which will last for the remainder of the weekend, as a significant storm strengthens overhead. Anyone who's been wearing shorts and T-shirts in recent days has now traded those in for snow coats and shovels.
The weather system began dropping snow across areas farther west, including across high elevations of Washington, Oregon and Northern California on Friday. The storm continued to intensify as it shifted farther east on Saturday, resulting in increasingly strong wind gusts, as well as the development of heavy snow.
By Saturday night, conditions across northern Montana rapidly deteriorated as snow and gusty winds continued to intensify. MDT Road Report had reported severe driving conditions along the Rocky Mountain Front Range as well as portions of Interstate 15.
The storm system will turn northeastward and quickly strengthen into Sunday night, and it will continue to tap into colder air across Canada. As this unfolds, precipitation will change over to all snow -- which is expected to come down at a fast clip. Increasing winds will also begin to whip the snow around and cause blowing snow to significantly reduce visibility.
"Travel will be extremely difficult and dangerous across Montana at the height of the storm through the day on Sunday, with snow-packed roadways and whiteout conditions expected," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Renee Duff. "Strong winds, combined with heavy snowfall, will create a full-blown blizzard in portions of the state."
Winds could gust over 40 mph in open areas. With high winds and temperatures not getting out of the teens in spots, the cold will make it dangerous to be outside. Temperatures in the teens and 20s will represent a temperature drop of 30 to 40 degrees from Friday to Sunday.
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The high winds combined with the snow will also make visibility near zero at times. Interstates 15, 90 and 94 are just some of the thoroughfares expected to see impacts into Sunday night.
Winter weather advisories (grey), winter storm warnings (blue) and blizzard warnings (pink) are in effect across a wide swath of Montana and southern Canada.
A large area of 6-12 inches (15 to 30 cm) of snow is expected, but well over a foot will fall in the higher elevations, with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 48 inches (120 cm).
By Sunday night, the storm will shift farther north into Canada. As it departs, snow will taper off and winds will diminish. With clearing skies, lighter winds and fresh snow on the ground, lows will plummet into the single digits and teens.
In the wake of the departed storm system, some locales may challenge record low temperatures across the intermountain West Sunday and Monday night.
Temperature are forecast to remain below through early this week, with the winterlike cold also plunging through the Desert Southwest. The next chance for snow will arrive with another storm system on Tuesday night and Wednesday.
This next system will be much weaker though, and at this time, snow amounts with that system are expected to be no more than a few inches outside of a few mountain slopes that typically see heavier snow.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
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News / Winter Weather
Blizzard warning covers large swath of Montana as feet of snow expected
By Ryan Adamson, AccuWeather meteorologist
Published Nov 6, 2020 1:17 PM EDT | Updated Nov 8, 2020 6:36 PM EDT
Mother Nature decided to tease Montana with one last gasp of summer in November, but weather conditions have abruptly changed and now Big Sky Country seems to have plunged into the depths of winter. Friday's unusual warmth was replaced with blizzard conditions by Saturday night, which will last for the remainder of the weekend, as a significant storm strengthens overhead. Anyone who's been wearing shorts and T-shirts in recent days has now traded those in for snow coats and shovels.
The weather system began dropping snow across areas farther west, including across high elevations of Washington, Oregon and Northern California on Friday. The storm continued to intensify as it shifted farther east on Saturday, resulting in increasingly strong wind gusts, as well as the development of heavy snow.
By Saturday night, conditions across northern Montana rapidly deteriorated as snow and gusty winds continued to intensify. MDT Road Report had reported severe driving conditions along the Rocky Mountain Front Range as well as portions of Interstate 15.
The storm system will turn northeastward and quickly strengthen into Sunday night, and it will continue to tap into colder air across Canada. As this unfolds, precipitation will change over to all snow -- which is expected to come down at a fast clip. Increasing winds will also begin to whip the snow around and cause blowing snow to significantly reduce visibility.
"Travel will be extremely difficult and dangerous across Montana at the height of the storm through the day on Sunday, with snow-packed roadways and whiteout conditions expected," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Renee Duff. "Strong winds, combined with heavy snowfall, will create a full-blown blizzard in portions of the state."
Winds could gust over 40 mph in open areas. With high winds and temperatures not getting out of the teens in spots, the cold will make it dangerous to be outside. Temperatures in the teens and 20s will represent a temperature drop of 30 to 40 degrees from Friday to Sunday.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
The high winds combined with the snow will also make visibility near zero at times. Interstates 15, 90 and 94 are just some of the thoroughfares expected to see impacts into Sunday night.
Winter weather advisories (grey), winter storm warnings (blue) and blizzard warnings (pink) are in effect across a wide swath of Montana and southern Canada.
A large area of 6-12 inches (15 to 30 cm) of snow is expected, but well over a foot will fall in the higher elevations, with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 48 inches (120 cm).
By Sunday night, the storm will shift farther north into Canada. As it departs, snow will taper off and winds will diminish. With clearing skies, lighter winds and fresh snow on the ground, lows will plummet into the single digits and teens.
In the wake of the departed storm system, some locales may challenge record low temperatures across the intermountain West Sunday and Monday night.
Temperature are forecast to remain below through early this week, with the winterlike cold also plunging through the Desert Southwest. The next chance for snow will arrive with another storm system on Tuesday night and Wednesday.
This next system will be much weaker though, and at this time, snow amounts with that system are expected to be no more than a few inches outside of a few mountain slopes that typically see heavier snow.
Related:
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo