Spring Snow Storm Causes Travel Problems, Power Outages

A late spring storm that brought occasionally heavy snow to areas of central and western Montana made travel hazardous along Interstate 15 and downed power poles, causing several outages, before moving off to the east.

The Montana Department of Transportation said several semi-trailers jackknifed north of Great Falls Friday morning, between Vaughn and Power. Three semis jackknifed in the area between Sieben Flats and the Gates of the Mountains exit north of Helena while two semis slid off the road at Bowman's Corner on Montana Highway 200.

Severe driving conditions were reported on roads in the Simms, Fairfield, Choteau and Augusta areas on Friday morning.

NorthWestern Energy said it was working to repair 40 downed power poles that caused several outages, mostly in the Great Falls area.