“Major Winter Storm” CLOSES Going-To-The-Sun Road in Glacier Nat’l Park, MT

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Clearing of Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park, MT on April 6th, 2016. image: nps

Glacier National Park in Montana has temporarily closed the Going-to-the-Sun Road from Jackson Glacier to Logan Pass today due to the “major winter storm” expected this weekend.

NOAA is currently forecasting up to 48″ of snowfall in Glacier National Park this weekend.

“Due to the approaching winter-like storm and anticipated heavy snows there are some temporary closures in effect. The Going-to-the-Sun Road from Jackson Glacier to Logan Pass is closed. The Many Glacier Campground will close at noon today. The Two Medicine Campground will close tomorrow (Friday) morning. The St. Mary Campground will remain open but ‘camping not advised’ signs are in place.”

– Glacier National Park, 9/26/19

NOAA has issued Winter Storm Warnings in Glacier National Park and all over Northwestern Montana.

NOAA is expecting 24-48″ of snow on the Rocky Mountain Front of Montana.

“The Rocky Mountain Front could see 2 to 4 feet of snow.” – NOAA, Great Falls MT, 9/26/19

 

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...This has the potential to be a historically
  significant early-season snow event. Now is the time to prepare
  for the winter-like weather!

- NOAA, Great Falls MT, 9/26/19

FRIDAY – SUNDAY SNOWFALL FORECAST MAP:

Up to 50″ of snow forecast in Montana this weekend. image: noaa, 9/26/19

24-HOUR SNOWFALL PROBABILITY SATURDAY – SUNDAY:

Snowfall probability map showing big snow for Glacier National Park, MT on Sunday. image: noaa, 9/26/19

4-DAY GEM WEATHER MODEL:

4-day GEM snowfall weather model showing big snow in Montana thru Monday. image: tropicaltidbits.com

4-DAY GFS WEATHER MODEL:

4-day GFS snowfall weather model agreeing with the GEM model showing big snow in Montana thru Monday. image: tropicaltidbits.com

Winter Storm Warning for Montana

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
415 AM MDT Thu Sep 26 2019

Northern Rocky Mountain Front-Eastern Glacier-Toole-
Eastern Pondera-Southern Rocky Mountain Front-Eastern Teton-
Including Logan Pass, Marias Pass, Browning, Heart Butte,
Cut Bank, Shelby, Sunburst, Brady, Conrad, Bynum, Choteau,
Augusta, Fairfield, and Dutton
415 AM MDT Thu Sep 26 2019

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM FRIDAY TO 6 PM MDT
SUNDAY...

* WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Blizzard conditions possible. Total
  snow accumulations of mostly 15 to 36 inches on the plains, but
  even higher amounts expected in the mountains. North to
  northeast winds of 15 to 30 mph could gust as high as 40 mph,
  causing dangerous wind chill temperatures of zero to 10 degrees
  above zero.

* WHERE...Portions of north central Montana, including the Rocky
  Mountain Front and adjacent plains.

* WHEN...From 6 PM Friday to 6 PM MDT Sunday.

* IMPACTS...Extreme impacts possible. Widespread tree damage is
  possible with wet heavy snow and strong winds impacting trees
  with foliage. Downed power lines are also possible, resulting in
  widespread power outages. Agricultural interests; outdoor
  recreational interests, including camping and hunting
  activities; and travel will also be negatively impacted.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...This has the potential to be a historically
  significant early-season snow event. Now is the time to prepare
  for the winter-like weather!

* CONFIDENCE...High confidence in accumulations, winds and
  associated impacts.

CURRENT WINTER ADVISORY MAP FOR MONTANA

PINK = Winter Storm Warning. BLUE = Winter Storm Warning. image: noaa, 9/26/19

GOING-TO-THE-SUN ROAD INFO:

Going-to-the-Sun Road is a scenic mountain road in the Rocky Mountains of the western United States, in Glacier National Park in Montana. The Sun Road, as it is sometimes abbreviated in National Park Service documents, is the only road that traverses the park, crossing the Continental Divide through Logan Pass at an elevation of 6,646 feet (2,026 m), which is the highest point on the road. Construction began in 1921 and was completed in 1932 with formal dedication in the following summer on July 15, 1933. The road is the first to have been registered in all of the following categories: National Historic Place, National Historic Landmark and Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. The road is approximately 50 miles (80 km) long and spans the width of the park between the east and west entrance stations.  The National Historic Landmark Nomination records a slightly shorter distance of 48.7 miles which is measured from the first main intersection just outside the park’s west entrance to Divide Creek in St. Mary on the east side of the park.

Going-to-the-Sun Road map.

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