GREAT FALLS — Snow, freezing temperatures, and slick roads are causing troubles for drivers across Great Falls and much of the surrounding area this Monday morning.
There have been several reports of slide-offs and fender-benders, but no major crashes as of 8 a.m.
Vivian Pankratz told KRTV: "Avoid 4th Street S. By Benefis west. Cars unable to make the hill... sliding backwards into each other." Another person reports that there is a car stuck on the median on 10th Avenue South in front of Scheels.
The National Weather Service posted on Facebook at 7:47 a.m.: "Weather spotters report extremely slick and icy roads with already 1 inch snow accumulation in Great Falls. Conditions will get worse before they get better. Please take it slow, especially approaching intersections!"
(UPDATE, 9:01 am) The Great Falls Police Department shared the following message on Facebook: "AVOID 10TH AVE S! No joke, Lt. Black is requesting drivers use an alternate route and avoid 10th Avenue South until the streets are more clear. We have 19 traffic related reports since approximately 7am, including crashes, slide offs, stuck vehicles, and now a semi is high centered at 35th St and 10th Ave S."
WINTER WEATHER RESOURCES:
- STORMTracker Weather page
- Live interactive radar
- STORMTracker on Facebook
- Montana webcams
- MT Dept of Transportation Road Conditions (interactive)
- MT Dept of Transportation Road Conditions (simple)
- MT Highway Patrol incidents
A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for Cascade and Judith Basin County in anticipation of the heavy snow and difficult travel. These two counties are expected to pick up 3-5 inches of snow in the plains and 6-12 inches in the mountains. Very cold temperatures will follow the passage of this front; highs are expected to remain below freezing through Wednesday.
