Winter Storm Warnings for 5 States With Travel 'Difficult to Impossible'

Winter storm warnings are in place for certain areas in five states—Montana, Nebraska, Oregon, South Dakota and Wyoming—as heavy snow is expected to make travel “very difficult to impossible” in these areas.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued alerts for the Pryor and Northern Bighorn Mountains in Montana and Wyoming, which will remain under a winter storm warning until 6 p.m. MDT on Monday. These areas can expect heavy snow, with a total accumulation between 1 and 3 feet, as well as winds gusting as high as 60 mph.

Traveling on Highway 14 through Burgess Junction will “likely be impossible at times,” the NWS warned, adding that there will likely be power outages due to the strong winds and the snow.

A person cross-country skis during a winter storm in the Sierra Nevada mountains on March 03, 2024 in Truckee, California. Drivers in parts of Montana, Nebraska, Oregon, South Dakota and Wyoming should expect difficult conditions…

Mario Tama/Getty Images

Still in Montana, the Snowy and Judith Mountains will stay under a winter storm warning until midnight MDT on Sunday night because of heavy snow and winds gusting as high as 50 mph. In these areas, travel could be “very difficult to impossible” and drivers might need to use tire chains.

Heavy snow is predicted to fall in the Northern Blue Mountains of Oregon as well, which are under a winter storm warning until 11 a.m. PDT on Saturday morning. Drivers can expect slippery road conditions if traveling through these areas.

In Nebraska, only Northern Sioux County will be under a winter storm warning between 3 p.m. on Saturday and 6 a.m. MDT on Monday because of expected heavy snow, wind gusts and localized blizzard conditions. Here, travel could be very difficult to impossible, with the snow potentially reducing visibility on the road.

In Wyoming, heavy snow is expected to fall in the areas of Casper Mountain, Converse County—including the cities of Bill, Douglas, Deer Creek and Glenrock—, Niobrara County, Southern Sioux County, Wyoming Black Hills and North Laramie Range.

Almost all of those parts of the Equality State will be under a winter storm warning until 6 p.m. MDT on Monday and drivers should brace for the fact that traveling through these areas could be very difficult, according to the NWS. The agency is urging anyone who must necessarily travel there in the coming days to keep an extra flashlight, food and water in their vehicle in case of an emergency.

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Moving into South Dakota, up to 10 inches of snow are expected to accumulate in Western Crook County, which will be under a winter storm warning between 6 p.m. on Saturday and 6 a.m. MDT on Monday. Heavy wet snow is expected to fall on the Weston County Plains, which will also be under warning until 6 a.m. MDT on Monday, and in the Central Black Hills.

Heavy snow and wind gusts are also expected in the Northern Black Hills, Northern Campbell County and Southern Campbell County, where travelers can expect difficult conditions on the road.