Wicked winds
High winds will challenge drivers Friday in parts of Montana as a cold front sweeps across the Continental Divide.
Southwesterly gusts could reach 60 to 80 mph in places such as Helena, Great Falls and Cut Bank. These crosswinds will make deadheading — pulling an empty trailer — very risky on Interstate 15 and U.S. Highway 2 through this region.
Saturday the high wind threat shifts to the Dakotas. Gusts will hit 50 to 60 mph on I-90 and I-94 in Pierre, Rapid City, Bismarck and Dickinson, as well as spots in between.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a high-wind watch for these areas.
Wintry mix
The remnants of Tropical Storm Zeta are moving into the Atlantic, but there’s some leftover precipitation on the backside of the storm. Roads will be slushy and snowy across interior portions of the Northeast, from southern New York state to Hartford, Connecticut, the Boston suburbs and parts of Vermont and New Hampshire.
Look for snowfall totals of 2 to 4 inches before the storm fades Friday afternoon. The NWS has issued a winter weather advisory for these areas.
Other weekend weather
Light rain and snow Friday will accompany the high winds in Montana.
Light rain and snow Sunday may cause minor delays across portions of the Great Lakes, mainly in Michigan and northern Wisconsin.