Truckers will face another Northwest storm as heavy snow spreads across several states this weekend.
Related: 5 states with toughest chain laws for truckers
The region has seen numerous storms this fall, leading to record rainfall and devastating flooding in northern Washington and portions of British Columbia. Flooding issues may continue as lower elevations and valleys receive more wet weather.
Friday and Saturday
Truckers will hit the most treacherous travel Friday night and Saturday in the high elevations of the Cascades and northern Rockies.
The bulk of the snow will pile up in western Montana, with 6 to 12 inches above 5,000
feet, including over Marias Pass on U.S. Highway 2. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph, reducing visibility due to blowing snow.
Parts of northeastern Montana could see up to 8 inches of snow, with lighter amounts of 2 to 5 inches in other areas of northern and eastern Montana.
The National Weather Service has issued various winter weather alerts for all of the previously mentioned places. The weather may also be rough in northern Idaho and the Washington Cascades, however the NWS didn’t have any alerts posted in these areas as of Friday morning. This could change throughout the day.
Saturday and Sunday
Snow will head to North Dakota and the Upper Midwest from Saturday afternoon through Sunday, with winter storm watches in effect. Look for snow totals of 4 to 8 inches, mainly north of Interstate 94 from North Dakota to far northern Wisconsin. Gusty winds will produce periods of blizzard and whiteout conditions.
Related: Record fall rain slams Pacific Northwest
Major lanes of concern
• Interstate 29 from north of Fargo, North Dakota, to the U.S.-Canada border.
• Interstate 35 from Duluth to Moses Lake, Minnesota.
• Interstate 94 in Glendive, Montana.
• U.S. Highway 2 from Summit, Montana, to Ironwood, Michigan.
Click here for more FreightWaves articles by Nick Austin.
You might also like:
What’s causing repeated floods in Pacific Northwest?
Ground control: Inside story of shipping a 3-ton satellite
Aging ‘Voice of the National Weather Service’ may soon sound better