Warnings for heavy snow—up to 5 feet—and strong winds—reaching 100 mph in some areas—have been issued to five states as the National Weather Service (NWS) warns residents in affected states to “delay all travel.”
States Affected By Heavy Snow
Michigan, Washington, Montana, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Idaho are likely to experience severe weather from Thursday through Friday, and until Saturday or Sunday in some cases.
Michigan
Keweenaw and northern Houghton counties could see between 8 and 12 inches of snow—with up to 17 inches expected over higher elevations in Keweenaw—and 50 mph winds from Thursday night until Friday afternoon. The NWS warns that the strong, gusty winds could cause widespread blowing snow and isolated power outages.
Alger, Delta, Luce, and northern and southern Schoolcraft counties could get up to 11 inches of snow—with up to 1 foot of snow expected along parts of M-28, northwards—and winds reaching 40 mph from late Thursday night, lasting until Friday night.
Baraga, Iron, Gogebic, Ontonagon, and southern Houghton counties are forecast to get up to 10 inches of snow, with up to a foot expected in elevated areas in Baraga, and 35 mph winds, continuing until Friday. Marquette County could see similar conditions, with up to 10 inches of snow likely to fall, with a foot of snow possible in the higher areas, and 40 mph winds until Friday afternoon.
Between 5 and 8 inches of snow could fall across Dickinson and Menominee counties, with winds reaching 40 mph from Thursday evening, lasting until early afternoon on Friday.
Washington
The Cascades of Snohomish and northern King Counties, the Cascades of Whatcom and Skagit counties, the Cascades of Pierce and Lewis counties, the Cascades of southern King county, and the Olympics are expected to get a maximum of 3 feet of snow and winds ranging from 40 to 65 mph, causing blizzard conditions through Thursday, with conditions lasting until Saturday morning.
Lookout Pass, Holden Village and Stevens Pass could get between 1 and 3 feet of snow and between 50 and 65 mph winds from Thursday morning into Saturday.
The upper slopes of the eastern Washington Cascades Crest could see up to 3 feet of snow and 55 mph winds through Thursday, until Friday morning, and the lower slopes of the eastern Washington Cascades Crest could get up to 7 inches of additional snow and 55 mph winds until Thursday afternoon.
The south Washington Cascades could get up to 30 inches of snow along the volcanoes with 45 mph winds, lasting until Friday morning.
Montana
The upper Blackfoot area and northwest Beaverhead county could see up to 24 inches of snow along the highest peaks and winds reaching up to 85 mph until around noon on Friday.
The Continental Divide along the Rocky Mountain Front is forecast to get between 1 and 3 feet of snow and 100 mph winds from Thursday, lasting until Saturday afternoon, with whiteout conditions expected to make “travel treacherous and potentially life-threatening,” especially over the Marias and Rogers Passes, according to the NWS.
The foothills and plains next to the Rocky Mountain Front are likely to get up to 15 inches of snow and 95 mph winds from Thursday night until Saturday afternoon.
The eastern Pondera and eastern Teton counties, and areas below 5,000 feet in Cascade county could see between 6 and 13 inches of snow, and the Gates of the Mountains could see up to 15 inches of snow by late Saturday afternoon.
Fergus county—below 4500 feet—and Judith Basin county, including Judith Gap, are expected to get between 7 and 19 inches of snow, and the Highwood, Little Belt, Judith, and Snowy Mountains could get between 1 and 3 feet of snow with winds reaching 85 mph by Saturday night.
The Absaroka and Beartooth Mountains are forecast to get between 1 and 3 feet of snow from Thursday evening until Sunday morning, with 85 mph winds expected through Thursday.
The I-90 from east Missoula to Bearmouth, Highway 83 from Seeley Lake to Condon, and Highway 200 from Bonner to Greenough could get up to 12 inches of snow (up to 3 feet is likely in higher elevation areas) and 40 mph winds until around noon on Saturday.
Highway 12 from Garrison to Elliston, Butte, Georgetown Lake, and the MacDonald and Homestake Passes could get up to 20 inches of snow with winds gusting around 40 to 60 mph (winds reaching 80 mph are likely in higher elevations) until noon on Saturday.
Bad Rock Canyon, Highway 83 from Bigfork to Swan Lake, Glacier National Park, and Essex and Polebridge counties could see up to 20 inches of snow by Saturday, with winds ranging from 40 mph to 80 mph.
Highway 93 from Sula to the Lost Trail Pass, Lolo Pass, Dixie, Powell, and backcountry mountain areas should prepare for up to 5 feet of snow above 5,000 feet with winds ranging from 50 to 80 mph, from Thursday afternoon until Saturday morning. The NWS has warned that “life-saving actions may be needed.”
Wisconsin
Price, Menominee, Langlade, Lincoln, Oneida, Vilas, Florence, Forest, northern Marinette County, northern Oconto and southern Marinette counties could see up to 8 inches of snow and 40 to 45 mph winds from Thursday night, lasting until Friday afternoon.
Minnesota
Lake Of The Woods, north and south Beltrami, and north Clearwater counties are expected to get up to 8 inches of snow and 40 mph winds until Friday afternoon.
Idaho
Pierce, Highway 11 from Pierce to Headquarters, and the backcountry mountain areas could see up to 50 inches of snow along the highest parts, with 35 mph winds, from Thursday afternoon, lasting until Saturday morning.
