Accumulating Snow and Some Blowing Snow this Weekend

By Denise Rivette

Good morning. The Billings office of the National Weather Service has provided an update on the winter storm system that WILL impact our area this weekend.

KEY POINTS

• Areas of mainly light snow today into Saturday

• Widespread snow and some blowing snow Saturday night through Sunday night

• Below normal temperatures through next Tuesday

DETAILS

• Today into Saturday

  • Areas of light snow

  • Accumulations mainly an inch or less, but locally 1-2 inches possible across the north (Roundup-Forsyth-Miles City-Baker)

• Saturday night through Sunday night

  • Widespread snow (heaviest central and east)

  • Accumulations of 5 to 9 inches from Roundup to Billings eastward (50-70% chance of 6" or more)

  • Accumulations of 2 to 5 inches western lower elevations (30-60% chance of 4" or more)

  • Wind gusts to 35 mph will cause areas of blowing & drifting snow, mainly east of Billings

• Weekend Snow Impacts

  • Travel will be impacted by snowy/slick roads, areas of blowing snow and poor visibility

  • Cold and wet weather will be hazardous for young livestock

• Monday and Beyond

  • Snow tapers off on Monday

  • Below normal temperatures linger through Tuesday

  • Warmer midweek, but weather pattern remains active with more rain/snow possible late in the week (lots of uncertainty here)

Snow accumulations over the weekend are predicted as follows:

• Bearcreek: approximately 4 inches

• Bridger: approximately 3 inches

• East Rosebud Lake: approximately 6 inches

• Fromberg: approximately 5 inches

• Joliet: approximately 5 inches

• Red Lodge Mountain: approximately 5 inches

• Red Lodge City: approximately 5 inches

• Roberts: approximately 5 inches

• Roscoe: approximately 5 inches

• Warren: approximately 3 inches