Winter storm to the west not likely to hit area

A storm moving onto the West Coast is expected to drop large amounts of snow in some regions, but National Weather Service is not predicting it to have much impact in this part of The Golden Triangle, although severely high winds are expected Saturday.

But a winter weather advisory is in effect in Washington and Oregon in parts of the Cascade Mountains, and the storm is expected to drop major precipitation in Washington and Idaho.

The forecast for Bonners Ferry, Idaho, predicts that more than 20 inches of new snow could fall through Monday.

But farther into Montana the amount of snow expected drops.

The forecasts in the Kalispell and Missoula areas predicts less than three inches of new snow will fall through Monday, and no snow is expected to fall from Chester to Harlem and south to Big Sandy through Saturday, although a slight chance of snow is predicted in the middle of next week.

The high wind warning, in effect through Saturday night, covers much of Montana including west of the Continental Divide and is listed as a high wind watch with slightly lower-speed winds expected in parts of eastern Montana.

The warning for Chouteau and Liberty counties predicts west winds from 35 mph to 45 mph with gusts up to 70 mph. 

The warning for Hill and Blaine counties, which includes Fergus County, also predicts winds 35 mph to 45 mph with gusts up to 65 mph.

Temperatures in Liberty, Chouteau, Hill and Blaine counties are expected to reach up into the 30s through early next week, with highs hitting the 40s during the wind warning Saturday.

Lows are expected to drop into the 20s through the weekend, getting into the teens early next week.

The temperatures are expected to drop more later in the week, with lows hitting the single digits in some areas and highs in the 20s, along with a slight chance of snow.

In other parts of the country, a storm in the South has dropped major amounts of precipitation, causing flooding and fears of dam failure.

AccuWeather reports some areas have received more than 6 inches of rain, with Jackson, Mississippi, setting a new daily record of 3.93 inches. The previous record was set in 2017 with 2.99 inches.

The rain was stranding cars, lifting manholes and leading to warnings of dam failures in some areas.

Some isolated areas in northeast Louisiana and western Mississippi had received more than 9 inches of rain, AccuWeather reported.

A  flash flood warning was issued for a possible dam failure in Adams County, Mississippi.

AccuWeather reports the storm will continue to move eastward into northern and central Alabama, and the threat of flooding should lighten.