Snow Squalls And Icy Roads: Western Montana Weather Alert

NWS Missoula is also issuing a warning of snow squalls in Western Montana Saturday, with gusty winds from Kalispell to Missoula and along the Divide. Roads are expected to turn icy as cold Arctic air moves into the region, and that could lead to some instant whiteouts.

Heavy snow was continuing to fall in the Western Montana passes late Friday night, with additional snow across parts of Central Montana. Some locations could receive more than a foot or two of snow before the storm winds down.

NWS graphic

That Arctic push on Saturday will bring a return of strong winds, but nothing close to Thursday's blast. Gusts could reach 35 mph in some locations.

Temps east of the Divide will fall into the single digits to around zero.

Avalanche risk update

The avalanche danger is also high in most of the Montana backcountry.

The Western Central Montana Avalanche Center was listing a "high" avalanche danger in the Bitterroot, Seeley-Swan and the southern end of the Mission Mountains. The Flathead Avalanche Center was also reporting "high" avalanche danger in the Swan Range, the Flathead Range, and Glacier National Park. The danger of slides is "considerable" in the Whitefish Range.

The Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center was reporting a "considerable" avalanche danger in the mountains of Southwest Montana.

Last big weekend for skiing

The new snow couldn't have come at a better time for Montana's ski resorts, with all in full operation, but close to ending the season.

Whitefish Mountain Resort was reporting 16" of new snow, with 97% of its terrain open. Teton Pass had received 26" over the past 3-days, Blacktail had 17" of new snow, while other areas like Showdown, Discovery, and Snowbowl had received nearly a foot of new snow.

Big Sky and Red Lodge hadn't received the bonus, but still had much of their operations in full gear for the weekend.

Goodbye $3 gas in Montana

Triple A reports "3-dollar gas" is a thing of the past, with the average prices for regular showing above that mark in all 56 of Montana's counties. Uncertainties in the market caused by the conflicts in the Middle East have now pushed the state's average to $3.22, compared with $2.99 a week ago.

Oddly enough, Petroleum County has the highest average this morning, at $3.71.