Lewistown, MT – A late-season winter storm is expected to develop across central and southwestern Montana by late Wednesday night, with snow and strong winds likely to disrupt travel into Thursday afternoon.
According to the National Weather Service, a Winter Storm Watch is in effect from late Wednesday night through Thursday afternoon for Judith Basin County, Fergus County, and surrounding areas, with a separate watch beginning Wednesday evening for mountain regions including the Big Belt, Bridger, and Gallatin ranges. Snow totals of 4 to 8 inches are possible in lower elevations, with 5 to 10 inches in the mountains and locally higher amounts.
Communities including Lewistown, Stanford, Hobson, and areas near Judith Gap will face increasing impacts overnight Wednesday. Mountain passes such as Bozeman Pass, Kings Hill Pass, and Targhee Pass could see rapidly deteriorating conditions, with snow-covered roads and reduced visibility.
Wind gusts up to 60 mph may create blowing snow, dropping visibility below a quarter mile at times and increasing the risk of travel disruptions. Strong winds could also bring down trees and power lines, leading to isolated outages.
Drivers should prepare for winter conditions, including carrying chains and emergency supplies. Travel delays are likely, especially across mountain routes and open areas prone to blowing snow.
The storm is expected to peak Thursday before tapering later in the day, but conditions may worsen if snowfall rates or wind speeds increase beyond current projections.
