A potentially extended freezing rain event is expected to occur this weekend in northwest Montana as a result of the cold air that is being trapped under fog.
The specifics of the weather forecast through Saturday night are a little difficult to pin down, according to Jenn Kitsmiller, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
This is because there are a lot of uncertainties involved. However, she is paying careful attention to the region of northwest Montana that is centered around Libby and Troy.
“Some of those areas could potentially see accumulations of a tenth to two tenths of an inch of ice. We’re really concerned with slick roads and also ice buildup on trees, possibly bringing down some branches and maybe some power outages,” Kitsmiller stated.
Despite the fact that the air temperature is above freezing, the general public should exercise caution when commuting on Saturday, particularly in locations that are shadowed and where black ice may persist.
Although there is a possibility of greater ice accumulations in the northwest region of Montana, the majority of regions, ranging from the Bitterroot Valley to the north, have at least a low risk of experiencing some freezing rain on Saturday.
Arctic Cold Hits Georgia with Temperatures 19 Degrees Below Seasonal Norm
It is probable that another round of valley inversions will occur early the following week.
