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Major snow dump in western states brings taste of winter to September Major snow dump in western states brings taste of winter to September
(about 5 hours later)
Parts of the northern Rocky Mountains looked more like mid-winter than early fall as a storm dumped record amounts of wind-driven snow that caused hazardous travel conditions and scattered power outages. Temperatures plunged across the Rocky Mountains on Monday as residents in Montana dug out from a wintry blast that left several feet of snow and caused the governor to declare an emergency.
Montana governor Steve Bullock declared an emergency, allowing the state to mobilize resources to help affected areas. Freeze warnings were in effect in parts of Utah, Idaho and Wyoming, with temperatures forecast to drop into the teens and 20sF (as low as -7C). The cold set in with the lingering fall storm system that dumped snow for three days across much of central and western Montana, including more than 4ft on the Blackfeet Reservation.
Winter storm warnings were posted for parts of western Montana, northern Idaho and north-east Washington. Snow also was forecast for areas in Wyoming, Utah, Oregon, Nevada and California. While parts of the Rockies were dealing with frigid temperatures and unusually early snow, extreme wildfire danger warnings emerged in eastern Utah and much of Colorado on Monday, where temperatures as high as the mid-80sF (30C), along with gusty winds and dry air were expected to create critical fire conditions.
The brunt of the storm hit Montana where up to 2ft of snow fell on Saturday in the mountains and a record 14in fell in Great Falls. The storm was expected to wind down late Sunday and early Monday. Montana’s governor, Steve Bullock, declared an emergency on Sunday for areas hit by the early-season storm that brought heavy, wet snow and high winds that closed roads, downed trees and caused scattered power outages. The declaration allows the state to mobilize resources to help affected areas.
Major interstates and highways remained open, but snow and ice covered many stretches of roadway in western Montana. The storm was expected to wind down early on Monday. The snow and bad roads led to school closures on Monday in the northern towns of Browning, Choteau, Conrad, Cut Bank, Dutton-Brady, Fairfield, Shelby and Valier.
Blackfeet and Pondera emergency officials requested all non-emergency vehicles stay off the roads until further notice.
Snow drifts shut down the US-Canada border crossing at US Highway 89, where state transportation officials also reported that 200 head of cattle were on the roadway. A vehicle accident slowed traffic on Interstate 15 and several surrounding state highways were closed because of the snow.
The National Weather Service issued both freeze warnings and extreme wildfire danger warnings in Utah. The hard-freeze warnings in the western part of the state were expected to last until Tuesday, meaning outdoor plumbing and crops that have no protection could sustain significant damage.
The fire warning is in the eastern part of the state near Moab through Monday evening.
US weatherUS weather
MontanaMontana
UtahUtah
IdahoIdaho
Natural disasters and extreme weatherNatural disasters and extreme weather
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