The official start of spring is just one week away, but winter is not letting up quietly. A powerful winter storm is expected to bring several feet of snow across parts of the northern United States.
A potential bomb cyclone is developing over the Great Lakes region as Wisconsin and Michigan prepare for as much as three feet of snow. However, states farther west are expected to receive the heaviest snowfall from the system.
Idaho bracing for up to 5 feet of snow, more than 4 feet possible in Montana
The National Weather Service has issued several winter storm warnings as a new atmospheric river brings heavy snowfall to the Northern Rocky Mountains.
“Meanwhile, an active Atmospheric River pattern across the Pacific Northwest into the northern Rockies will continue to bring heavy lower elevation/coastal rain and high elevation snow for the next couple of days. Additional snowfall totals in the Olympics/Cascades and northern Rockies will be as much as two to four feet through the weekend,” the NWS said.
Idaho: While the NWS capped its national forecast at four feet, the agency’s Missoula office is warning that snowfall could reach up to five feet in Dixie, Idaho. “Total snow accumulations between three and eight inches in the lower elevations and two to five feet of snow above 5,000 feet,” forecasters said, noting that winds up to 40 mph could create “difficult or impossible” travel conditions.
Residents in the area are being warned to expect major disruptions to normal activities and extremely dangerous travel conditions. Officials are urging people to delay travel if possible and prepare for widespread closures and infrastructure disruptions.
Montana: The Crazy Mountains in Montana and Cooke City near Yellowstone National Park are also expected to see significant snowfall totals. The National Weather Service office in Billings says the region could receive more than four feet of snow.
“Total snow accumulations between one and four feet, with locally higher totals possible,” the Billings office said about conditions in the Crazy Mountains.
Even higher totals could occur near Cooke City, prompting another warning from forecasters. “Recreation in the high country will be severely impacted by heavy accumulating and blowing snow. Widespread blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. Avalanche danger is expected to increase over the next few days,” the NWS said.
The winter storm warnings are expected to remain in effect through Sunday afternoon.
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