Updated Oct. 9, 2019 10:22 PM
It may be early October, but parts of the northern United States have been transformed into a winter wonderland as an early-season snowstorm unloads record-setting snow across the region.
This is the second storm in less than two weeks to spread snow over parts of the northern U.S. However, unlike the late-September storm, this new storm is stronger and forecast to evolve into a full-on blizzard by week’s end.
Snow started to fall on Tuesday from the Cascades to the northern Rockies as the storm began to unfold.
Spokane, Washington, was one town that was hit particularly hard by the snow on Tuesday. A record-breaking 3.3 inches of snow fell, the first measurable snow in the month of October since 2001. It also made this month the third-snowiest October on record, following 3.9 inches in October of 1975 and 6.1 inches in October of 1957.
While this may not sound like an excessive amount of snow, it accumulated on trees that still had yet to shed their leaves ahead of winter. The weight of this snow caused large limbs to snap and, in some cases, entire trees to fall.
This contributed to the 30,000 power outages across the Spokane area on Wednesday morning. The unusual early-season snow combined with the power outages caused the Spokane School District to close on Wednesday.
One of many roads that were impassable in Spokane, Washington, on Wednesday after tree limbs snapped under the weight of snow. (Photo/City of Spokane)
By Wednesday morning, the worst of the storm had shifted east, focusing on Montana. One of the snowiest spots was just south of Helena, Montana, where a National Weather Service trained spotter measured over 16 inches of snow and ‘significant drifting.’
Snow from this storm brought the two-week snow total in Great Falls, Montana, to over 26 inches. This is more snow than the city received from September through December of last year.
Not only did the snow cause problems, but so did the gusty winds. Whiteouts were reported around Leader, Montana, where sustained winds of 30 mph and gusts over 40 mph were blowing around the fresh powder that blanketed the landscape.
A Montana resident removes a heap of snow off of her car with a frisbee amid the storm. (Twitter/KatieBradt)
People traveling across the region found it difficult to navigate through mountain passes, including those along I-90 and I-15. Part of I-15 in Idaho was closed on Wednesday due to blowing and drifting snow.
Interstate 90 was packed with snow at Homestake Pass in Montana. The mountain pass reaches an elevation of 6,385 feet. (Photo/Montana Department of Transportation)
Those who are traveling by plane may also see some delays and cancelations. Delta issued a travel waiver due to the winter weather.
The snowstorm was preceded by a sharp cold front that seemed to cause the seasons to change in just a matter of hours.
Officers in Bozeman, Montana responded to numerous crashes on Wednesday due to the slick road conditions. (Twitter/BozemanPolice)
Snow in Bozeman, Montana caused dozens of accidents in the city and on highways on Wednesday. The Bozeman Police Department reported at least 13 accidents in the city.
Temperatures tumbled in Great Falls as the front moved through, causing the mercury to plummet 20 degrees in just 25 minutes.
A similar story unfolded in Billings, Montana. Residents across the city experienced what felt like a late-summer day on Tuesday with highs in the mid-70s, but by Wednesday morning, temperatures were barely hanging onto the 20-degree mark, more typical of a late-November morning.
The worst of the storm is still ahead as it strengthens over the northern Plains.
“A general 6-12 inches of snow will fall from western and central South Dakota to central and eastern North Dakota. An AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 30 inches is in store for parts of central and eastern North Dakota,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said. “The excessive snowfall will be due to the storm stalling and strengthening over the region.”
“In portions of the northern Plains, the visibility is likely to dip below one-quarter of a mile with frequent winds topping at 40 mph, which is the criteria for blizzard conditions,” he added.
Snow will develop near the Wyoming border into Wednesday night and spread south into the I-70 Mountain Corridor overnight. Total snow accumulations of 4 to 10 inches is expected with winds gusting as high as 35 mph.
Denver is also forecast to get its first snow of the season, although the city will not have blizzard conditions like areas farther north.
The combination of the cold air and biting winds will also cause dangerously low AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures in part of the Plains.
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