A record-breaking storm dumped nearly two feet of snow across the northern Rockies during the first weekend of fall – causing power outages and road closures in several communities in Montana.
Montana Gov Steve Bullock declared an emergency Sunday, allowing the state to mobilize resources to areas affected by the early-season storm.
Treacherous highway conditions were reported in northwestern parts of the state as 60 mph winds kicked up the fresh snowfall, reducing visibility on slippery roads.
Montana Highway Patrol trooper Amanda Villa warned commuters to be careful as she posted a photo of a car that slipped into a ditch and overturned. She said all of the passengers were okay.
Winter weather warnings and advisories remained in effect for parts of western Montana, northern Idaho and northeast Washington on Sunday morning as snow continued to fall amid what the National Weather Service described as a ‘historic winter storm’. Snow also was forecast for areas in Wyoming, Utah, Oregon, Nevada and California.
The unusually early wintry weather comes weeks after the Farmer’s Almanac predicted that the US will experience a ‘Polar Coaster’ of temperature fluctuations this winter.
A record-breaking storm dumped nearly two feet of snow across the northern Rockies during the first weekend of fall – causing power outages and road closures in several communities in Montana on Saturday
Treacherous highway conditions were reported in northwestern Montana as 60 mph winds kicked up the fresh snowfall, reducing visibility. A Montana Highway Patrol trooper tweeted a photo of a car that slipped into a ditch and overturned
The brunt of the ongoing storm hit Montana on Saturday as some areas saw nearly two feet of snow by late afternoon. Locals shared photos and videos of their homes surrounded by the unseasonably-early snowfall
The brunt of the ongoing storm hit Montana on Saturday as some areas saw nearly two feet of snow by late afternoon.
Snowfall in Browning measured at 23 inches by 4.10pm, according to Accuweather, followed closely behind by 21 inches in East Glacier Park (pictured)
Snowfall in Browning measured at 23 inches by 4.10pm, according to Accuweather, followed closely behind by 21 inches in East Glacier Park. The area is forecast to see a total of up to four feet by the time the storm winds down Sunday night, said meteorologist Megan Syner.
Great Falls was blanketed in 9.7 inches on Saturday, surpassing a daily record of 6.1 inches set in 1954. It was also the earliest date of snowfall exceeding 9.7 inches since November 8, 2012.
Missoula, which has not received snow in September since 1983, saw a trace amount of snow for the first time ever recorded on that date.
State Department of Transportation officials braced for the weather by bringing in snowplows and sanding trucks and putting up ‘watch for ice on bridge’ signs, maintenance chief Steve Felix told the Missoulian.
The warm roadbeds will probably melt most of the snow during the weekend, Felix said, but the cold temperatures forecast for Monday could create black ice while drivers likely haven’t put on their snow tires yet.
‘I’m concerned people will not be ready for this,’ he said. ‘They shouldn’t take this storm lightly.’
Rebecca Connors, public information officer for the City of Helena Public Works, told AccuWeather: ‘It’s Montana, and this is kind of the characteristic of Montana, freak snowstorms. Our seasons are short except for winter.’
Winter weather warnings and advisories remained in effect for parts western Montana, northern Idaho and northeast Washington on Sunday as snow continued to fall. The National Weather Service warned that the storm could be ‘historic’
Snow also was forecast for areas in Wyoming, Utah, Oregon, Nevada and California
Meteorologists say the storm will be followed by temperatures plunging to unseasonably cold levels early this week, with the coldest spots dropping to the teens and 20s
The strange September weather is caused by cold air from Canada dragging west from the Rocky Mountains, where residents were warned to brace for crop damage and treacherous roadways.
Meteorologists say the storm will be followed by temperatures plunging to unseasonably cold levels early this week, with the coldest spots dropping to the teens and 20s.
‘This is going to be a very long duration, wet event,’ said National Weather Service lead meteorologist Paul Nutter.
Cities that haven’t seen September snow in decades canceled sporting events and readied their street plows, while residents brought in their garden vegetables and covered plants ahead of the hard freeze.
Nutter said isolated snowstorms in the mountains aren’t unusual for September, but the amount of snow forecasted and the storm’s vast area made it a potentially historical event.
He said it was too early to link the storm to the effects of climate change, and that meteorologists are instead focused on what the storm will do.
‘In general, scientists are seeing with a warmer planet that individual weather systems are becoming a little more energized,’ he said.
Ne’vaeh Allison clears snow from the Centerville High School football field before a Saturday game in Centerville, Montana
Fans bundled up to brave the wind and snow during the football game between Centerville High School and Belt High School
Five-year-old Connor Cruz inspects snow laden sunflowers during Saturday’s snow storm in Great Falls, Montana
The low pressure system’s impact extended south as approximately 70 reports of severe weather emerged from Kansas to Indiana.
Thunderstorms ripped through Illinois and northwest Indiana over Friday night, sparking flash flood warnings Saturday morning.
Four people had to be rescued from Lake Michigan in Chicago, including a 20-year-old man stranded some 400 feet off the shore near Pratt.
‘The waves were high. The water temperature, I believe, was 58 degrees,’ Battalion Chief Frank Cambria told CBS News. ‘We were worried about hypothermia setting in. The victim was just about under water when Capt. Finnegan got to him.’
‘He was in trouble. He was yelling. He was drowning. We went in,’ Captain Michael Finnegan added about himself and colleague and two others stayed on the boat for Friday’s rescue mission.
Three divers were also rescued from the lake in the city where 959 flights had been cancelled at O’Hare Airport and 134 were cancelled at Midway International, while both travel hubs had delays nearing one hour where flights went ahead.
In Manteno, high winds knocked down tents and ruined an Oktoberfest event, ABC News reported.
Thunderstorms ripped through Illinois and northwest Indiana over Friday night, sparking flash flood warnings early Saturday
A video filmed from a home in Mossville, Illinois, shows the severe weather that sparked a travel warning
Flash floods hit Illinois (pictured) and Indiana as six inches of rainfall blanketed large swaths of the northern US