More snow on the way

The winter storm expected to hit this part of Montana seemed to come early and end earlier than expected, but more wintry weather again is in the forecast.

National Weather Service had issued a winter storm warning for much of north-central Montana including Chouteau, Hill and Liberty counties through today, and a blizzard warning for the northern Rocky Mountain Front.

The storm was expected to drop 3 to 7 more inches of snow in the plains, up to 10 inches in some areas, and 12 to 18 inches in the Front with some locations seeing up to 28 inches.

A storm hit starting Tuesday that seemed to be centered on Havre, with 3 to 5 inches falling in the afternoon leading to multiple vehicle crashes in just a few hours. That led to Havre police requesting people stay off the streets if possible.

The storm that was expected to dump on this area through Thanksgiving evening saw little snow falling in Havre after Wednesday afternoon.

The storm did hit other regions more heavily, though data for Havre and Browning were missing.

A post on the Great Falls Weather Service office Facebook page reports 20 inches fell a few miles southeast of Ulm, 14 inches just northwest of Choteau, and 12 inches east-northeast of Dutton.

Havre police did report more crashes Wednesday and Thursday, with Montana Highway Patrol reporting multiple crashes on roads and highways in this region for that period, with many happening in Toole, Pondera and Glacier counties.

Harlem Volunteer Fire Department posted on its Facebook page that it responded with one truck and five personnel Thursday to a semitractor-trailer rollover east of Zurich. One occupant of the truck was uninjured.

“Please be safe on the roadways in these traveling conditions, slow down and pull over for these incidents,” the post adds. “The emergency personnel are already leaving behind families and meals to brave the conditions. Please make it as easy and safe as possible for them.”

Blaine County had been under a winter weather advisory through Thursday, turning to a winter storm warning through Saturday.

And Weather Service is now predicting another storm to hit the area.

A winter storm advisory is in effect through Saturday for Hill and Liberty counties, west to the Rocky Mountain Front and south along the Front.

A winter storm warning is in effect for a region including Blaine and Chouteau counties.

Blaine and Chouteau counties are expected to see 5 to 8 inches of new snow with up to 12 inches in the mountains.

Hill and Liberty counties are expected to see 2 to 5 inches more snow, with up to 7 inches in the mountains.

Weather Service warns people to plan on slippery road conditions, as icy roads become snow-covered once again. Areas of blowing snow could reduce visibility especially in mountain passes.