Montana Passes Are Windy and Snowy Again

A photo from the Idaho Transportation Department a mile west of Lolo Pass shows the recent snowfall at midmorning December 27.

The latest storm to cross Western Montana and the Bitterroot Valley is coming from the Pacific Coast on an easterly track, with some wind whipping up the snow throughout Montana. In fact, Interstate 90 at Livingston was closed again Tuesday morning due to strong cross winds out of the south. There is a detour through Livingston to get you past the seven miles of I-90 that are closed.

The blowing and drifting on most of the passes on the Front Range of the Rockies includes Marias, Rogers, McDonald and Monida. South of Monida, Idaho officials have been battling snow and wind in the eastern part of their state.

Wednesday doesn't look too bad in the forecast, but another storm is coming Thursday. Missoula's National Weather Service office reported 13 inches of snow on the ground Tuesday morning, the most since the Christmas Eve snowstorm of 1996.

Stay warm and drive safely. Check the Montana Department of Transportation website for more information. The trouble areas are marked with an exclamation point (!).