Here we go again

National Weather ServiceWednesday, February 23, 2011 5:28 AM Local Time

WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM MST THURSDAY...


IMPACTS/TIMING: SNOWFALL AND GUSTY NORTHEAST WINDS WILL BOTH INTENSIFY EARLY THIS EVENING. THE COMBINATION OF SNOW AND WIND WILL PRODUCE WIDESPREAD BLOWING/DRIFTING OF SNOW AND LOCAL BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WITH RAPID REDUCTIONS TO VISIBILITY. THIS WILL CREATE EXTREMELY TREACHEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS THROUGH THURSDAY. DRAMATICALLY FALLING TEMPERATURES COMBINED WITH CONTINUED GUSTY NORTHEAST WINDS WILL ALSO PRODUCE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 5 TO 10 INCHES BY THURSDAY MORNING.

* VISIBILITY: LESS THAN ONE QUARTER MILE AT TIMES.

* WIND: NORTHEAST WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 30 MPH DURING THE DAY. IN THE FLATHEAD VALLEY...NORTHEAST WINDS INTENSIFYING 30 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH THIS EVENING. IN THE MISSION VALLEY... NORTHEAST WINDS INTENSIFYING 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 30 MPH THIS EVENING. STRONG WINDS WILL CONTINUE INTO THURSDAY.

* WIND CHILL: 10 TO 20 BELOW ZERO WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY.

IN THE FLATHEAD VALLEY...30 BELOW ZERO THURSDAY MORNING.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...FLATHEAD LAKE...FLATHEAD VALLEY...
MISSION VALLEY...POLSON PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW...
BLOWING SNOW...OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING.

STRONG WINDS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.