Winter Storm Warning Issued for Butte and Blackfoot Region: Heavy Snow and High Winds Expected

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Missoula, MT has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the Butte/Blackfoot region. This alert indicates a high likelihood of major to extreme winter weather impacts due to heavy snow and significant wind activity.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the following geographic regions and transit corridors:

• Cities and Landmarks: Butte, Georgetown Lake, MacDonald Pass, and Homestake Pass.
• Highways: Highway 12 from Garrison to Elliston and the Interstate 90 corridor between Garrison Junction and Anaconda.

Expected Conditions

Residents and travelers should prepare for severe winter conditions, including:

• Snow Accumulation: 10 to 20 inches are expected for Highway 12 over MacDonald Pass, Georgetown Lake, and higher terrain. Lower elevations may see between 1 to 6 inches.
• Wind Speeds: Wind gusts are forecast between 40 to 60 mph, with extreme gusts of 60 to 80 mph possible at higher elevations. The strongest winds at lower elevations are expected along the I-90 corridor.
• Visibility: Falling and blowing snow may reduce visibilities to below 1/4 mile. Periods of blizzard conditions are specifically expected for MacDonald Pass, Georgetown Lake, and higher elevations on Thursday morning.
• Infrastructure: The combination of strong winds and the weight of snow may down tree limbs and power lines, leading to sporadic power outages and disruptions to infrastructure.

What You Should Do

• Travel: Delay all travel if possible. If travel is absolutely necessary, drive with extreme caution, allow extra time, and maintain significant distance between vehicles. Avoid sudden braking or acceleration, especially on hills or turns.
• Preparation: Ensure your vehicle is winterized and in good working order.
• Safety: Do not touch downed power lines and report any outages to your local electric company. Travel is highly discouraged due to slick roads and the possibility of downed trees.

Timeline

The Winter Storm Warning is effective starting at midnight tonight, March 12, 2026. The hazardous conditions are expected to persist until the warning expires at 12:00 PM MDT on Saturday, March 14, 2026. Commuters should be particularly aware of impacts during the Thursday morning and evening commutes.