UPDATED AT 5 p.m. -- As predicted, the snow and cold of a strong Arctic weather system blew into Western Montana Monday afternoon. Ravalli County Sheriff's Office recommended "essential travel only" on area roads, including US 93 and the East side Highway. The strong wind was blowing the snow sideways from the north as the front moved through. Conditions will be dangerous through the night. Interstate 90 east of Missoula was closed Monday afternoon because of a semi-truck jack-knifed and power outages have been reported in the Missoula area. Some radio stations are off the air because of a power outage on Dean Stone Mountain.

The skies are expected to clear and bitter cold will take over Tuesday, October 29, as the main danger from the fast-moving storm. The National Weather Service expects the temperatures to slowly moderate by the weekend.

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