A winter weather advisory from the National Weather Service runs from 8 p.m. ET Saturday to 8 p.m. ET Sunday, with up to 3 inches of snow and gusts as high as 35 mph. Its impact section is one line long: plan on slippery road conditions. The advisory also names the exact highway segments it covers, so drivers can check a route directly against the list.
Where The Advisory Applies
NWS Missoula issued the advisory at 3:30 p.m. ET Thursday for two forecast zones in western Montana. It is a new alert, one level below a winter storm warning.
|
Route |
Segment named by NWS |
|
Lolo Pass |
Pass crossing |
|
Highway 83 |
Seeley Lake to Condon |
|
I-90 |
East Missoula to Bearmouth |
|
Highway 93 |
Sula to Lost Trail Pass |
|
Highway 200 |
Bonner to Greenough |
Snow, Wind And Timing
Snow totals reach up to 3 inches, with gusts to 35 mph. NWS gives a single figure for the whole advisory area and does not break it down by route. Locally, the advisory begins at 6 p.m. Saturday and ends at 6 p.m. Sunday.
Driving The Routes
Two of the five segments end at or cross a pass, Lolo Pass and the Highway 93 climb to Lost Trail Pass. Even a few inches of fresh snow on a grade like that can lengthen stopping distances, and summer tires give up grip quickly as pavement temperatures fall.
Gusts of 35 mph matter most for tall vehicles and anyone towing.
NWS tells drivers to slow down and use caution and to call 511 for current road conditions. The advisory adds that stairs, sidewalks and driveways could be icy, including at fuel stops.
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