Blizzards, Winds and Winter: Storm Moves Into Montana

Gusty winds are back across Montana, especially at the higher elevation weather stations as a major storm moved into the Northern Rockies.

      Winds were already just over 50 miles per hour in several locations, especially over Central Montana as darkness fell.

While all areas of the state will feel the impacts of this storm, NWS forecasters in Great Falls are still warning that the highest gusts will be along the Divide and Rocky Mountain Front, where some gusts could reach as high as 80, or even 90, in what is being called a "long duration wind event" that could last until Saturday.

Snow is the other big factor, with anywhere from 2 to 4 feet along the Northern Divide, with blizzard warnings. Even the higher valleys could be hit. Lewistown and other Central Montana towns could receive a foot or more. And the outlook for snow in places like Great Falls is ranging upward to 6 to 8 inches of snow, with lesser amounts in Billings, Butte, and Missoula.

Western passes seeing snow

Travelwise, the road remained good for the most part through Wednesday afternoon, but that's expected to change as the storm moves east. There have been persistent snow showers on the Idaho border passes, where chains had already been required on Wednesday morning.

     More restrictions are expected into Thursday.

Tragic crash kills woman and baby

The Montana Highway Patrol is now confirming it was a 28-year old woman and a baby that were killed in that head-on crash north of Missoula Monday night.

Troopers say the woman may have been drinking when she allowed her car to drift over the centerline, smashing into an oncoming vehicle. They say the baby was in a proper car seat and also died in the crash, while the second driver was taken to the hospital with injuries.

Governor floats flat tax idea

In other news, we've heard more discussion about possible sales taxes in Montana. But Governor Gianforte wants lawmakers to look into a flat tax next year. JD Knite has the story.