Updated Sep. 29, 2019 10:33 AM
The northern Rockies were blasted with the first big snowstorm of the season, which the National Weather Service forecasted as a “historic winter storm."
Winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories were still in effect for parts of the northern Rockies, Cascades, and Sierra Nevada early on Sunday morning as snow continued to fall.
Highways across northwestern Montana experienced reduced visibility due to blowing and drifting snow over the weekend.
There was at least one vehicular accident amid slippery roads. Montana Highway Patrol trooper Amanda Villa posted on Twitter a car that had slipped into a ditch and flipped over. Villa reported that everyone who had been in the vehicle was okay.
(webcam/National Park Service)
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Snow fell Saturday morning, Sept. 28, over the Many Glacier area of Montana's Glacier National Park. There is the possibility that this snowstorm will break records across four states. (webcam/National Park Service)
A preliminary snowfall of 9.7 inches fell in Great Falls, Montana, on Saturday, which beat the daily record of 6.1 inches set in 1954. This also is the earliest date of a snowfall of 9.7 inches or greater, with the previous earliest date being November 8, 2012. Snow will continue to pile up in the city into Sunday night.
Missoula, Montana, recorded a trace of snow on Saturday, which is the first time a trace of snow has ever been recorded on the date.
By Saturday afternoon local time, snowfall in Browning, Montana, nearly reached 2 feet, measuring 23 inches of total snowfall at 4:10 p.m. MDT.
A total of 15 inches of snow was reported near Kiowa, Montana, while another report found that East Glacier Park, Montana, had received 21 inches of snow.
By early afternoon local time on Saturday, 13 inches of snow had been reported near Choteau, Montana. The report also mentioned that ice has started to cover highways that were previously plowed.
Officials in Choteau reported numerous downed power lines and trees due to severe wind on Saturday around noon, which created dangerous conditions.
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Ahead of the storm, Glacier National Park in Montana announced road closures. While St. Mary Campground remains open, "camping not advised" signs have been put in place.
In the wake of the snow, those left without power or cleaning up storm debris will face bitterly cold conditions with record lows challenged on Sunday night and perhaps Monday night.
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