Blizzard and Winter Storm Warnings Issued for West Glacier Region Through Saturday
The National Weather Service has issued a Blizzard Warning and multiple Winter Storm Warnings for the West Glacier Region, forecasting up to 20 inches of snow and 80 mph wind gusts.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in Missoula, MT, has issued a series of severe weather alerts for the West Glacier Region. The alerts include a Winter Weather Advisory, followed by two Winter Storm Warnings and a Blizzard Warning. These alerts remain in effect through 12:00 PM MDT on Saturday, March 14.
Affected Areas
The warnings cover several specific locations within the West Glacier Region, including:
- Polebridge
- Marias Pass
- Bad Rock Canyon
- Highway 83 from Bigfork to Swan Lake
- Glacier National Park
- Essex
- US Highway 2 east of West Glacier to Marias Pass
What You Should Do
Officials advise that persons should consider delaying all travel. If travel is absolutely necessary, drive with extreme caution and carry a winter storm kit including tire chains, booster cables, a flashlight, a shovel, blankets, extra clothing, water, and a first aid kit. If you become stranded, stay in your vehicle. During the Blizzard Warning, travel is not advised as whiteout conditions will make travel treacherous and potentially life-threatening.
Expected Conditions
- Snowfall: Total snow accumulations are expected to range between 5 and 20 inches during the primary storm period, with initial accumulations of 4 to 6 inches during the early phases of the alert.
- Wind: High winds will impact all elevations late tonight through Thursday morning with gusts between 60 and 80 mph. Other periods will see gusts as high as 40 mph.
- Visibility: Falling and blowing snow will likely drop visibilities below 1/4 mile, creating whiteout conditions.
- Impacts: Expect substantial disruptions to normal activities, extensive tree damage, and potential infrastructure closures.
Timeline
- Winter Weather Advisory: Effective until 6:00 PM MDT Wednesday, March 11.
- First Winter Storm Warning: Effective from 6:00 PM Wednesday to midnight MDT.
- Blizzard Warning: Effective from midnight tonight to 9:00 AM MDT Thursday, March 12.
- Second Winter Storm Warning: Effective from 9:00 AM Thursday to 12:00 PM MDT Saturday, March 14.
Source: NOAA Official Notice
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