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Prepare for frigid weather, heavy snowfall and powerful winds

Weather graphic from April 11 at 4 a.m. showing snowfall forecasts for much of Southwest MT of greater than 1" per hour between 9 p.m. through 3 a.m. April 12. Highway 15 between Helena and Butte, and I-90 from Homestake Pass to Cardwell on are expected to have dangerous travel conditions overnight due to intense snowfall and poor visibility.
National Weather Service, Great Falls, MT.
Weather graphic from April 11 at 4 a.m. showing snowfall forecasts for much of Southwest MT of greater than 1" per hour between 9 p.m. through 3 a.m. April 12. Highway 15 between Helena and Butte, and I-90 from Homestake Pass to Cardwell on are expected to have dangerous travel conditions overnight due to intense snowfall and poor visibility.

A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for much of central and southwest Montana. The National Weather Service is predicting unseasonably cold temperatures over the next couple days.

Forecasters are predicting up to 12 inches of snow to fall in lower elevations, and up to 20 inches in the mountains starting Tuesday through early Wednesday.

Unseasonably cold, below-freezing temperatures and gusty winds are expected through Thursday.

The National Weather Service in Great Falls is warning that blizzard-like conditions could make driving hazardous and cause isolated power outages. The service also warns that conditions could be dangerous for young livestock.

Weather graphic from April 11 at 6:02 a.m. warning of unseasonably cold temperatures across most of the state through April 14. Highs are expected to remain mostly in the teens to low 20s until slightly above-zero temperatures arrive Thursday morning.
National Weather Service, Great Falls, MT.
Weather graphic from April 11 at 6:02 a.m. warning of unseasonably cold temperatures across most of the state through April 14. Highs are expected to remain mostly in the teens to low 20s until slightly above-zero temperatures arrive Thursday morning.

The Mannix Family Ranch in Helmville scheduled their calving season later in April to avoid spring storms like this one.

Logan Mannix is one of the ranch managers. He says, “Any calves born in bad storms, you can lose them from freezing to death. If they’re born exposed to the wind, they usually won’t make it without help.”

Mannix says one silver lining is the predicted moisture that will help the ranch, as much of Montana continues experiencing drought.

“Snowpack would be great. If we do get some moisture we certainly could use that,”he says.

More information and up-to-date forecasts can be found at weather.gov.

A weather graphic from April 11 at 11:17 a.m. warning of strong, potentially damaging winds in northwest Montana from Missoula to the Canadian border, particularly along the east side or Flathead Lake, Mission/Missoula valleys and Highway 93 corridor from Kalispell to Eureka. Northwest winds 20-40 MPH, with gusts near 60 mph, locally higher.
National Weather Service, Missoula, MT.
A weather graphic from April 11 at 11:17 a.m. warning of strong, potentially damaging winds in northwest Montana from Missoula to the Canadian border, particularly along the east side or Flathead Lake, Mission/Missoula valleys and Highway 93 corridor from Kalispell to Eureka. Northwest winds 20-40 MPH, with gusts near 60 mph, locally higher.

Shaylee covers state government and politics for Montana Public Radio. Please share tips, questions and concerns at 406-539-1677 or shaylee.ragar@mso.umt.edu.  
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