Snow and cold will continue in Northwest Montana

The National Weather Service in Missoula issued an update for the winter weather that has come to Northwest Montana.

In the Flathead and Mission valleys, snow will continue through Thursday, Jan. 30, with winds gusting from the east up to 25 mph starting around 8 p.m. Temperatures will drop to around 20 degrees by 1 a.m. and then to 15 degrees by 5 a.m.

Snow mitigation may become difficult, with slushy or wet roads turning to ice very quickly. Mission Valley will see an intensification of snow and wind by 3 a.m., with up to 6 inches of snow accumulation overnight. Wind is a bit less certain for the Mission Valley.

In the Glacier region, from U.S. 2 and Bad Rock Canyon to Marias Pass, snow will continue through Thursday night. Snow will pick up in intensity at Marias Pass around 6 p.m. with east winds gusting to 40 mph at times, and blowing and drifting snow, as well as limited visibility. Elsewhere, east winds are expected, gusting to 25 mph in blowing and drifting snow between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.

In the Seeley-Swan region and the Blackfoot region from East Missoula to Ovando, snow will intensify after 11 p.m., with up to 6 inches Wednesday evening through Thursday morning. Open areas along Highway 200 will experience wind gusts to 25 mph from the east, in snow and blowing snow limiting visibility. Slushy roadways may suddenly freeze as temperature steadily drops to around 15 degrees by 5 a.m. Thursday morning.

For more information, visit online at www.weather.gov/missoula.