Thick hail falls after storm in Wisconsin
Thick hailstones appeared in Green Bay, Wisconsin, after a severe storm dumped heavy rain and hail.
A rare winter storm in late June is expected to bring heavy snow, strong winds and rapidly warming temperatures to parts of the northern Rocky Mountains on June 28, with forecasters warning of dangerous travel conditions in higher elevations.
As a powerful weather system takes hold in the region, the National Weather Service has issued winter storm and weather warnings for parts of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, especially high-elevation areas along the common border. The Bureau of Meteorology advised the public to prepare for “winter-like conditions” in remote and high-altitude areas.
The storm is caused by a deep upper-level trough that plows into the Rocky Mountains and the Intermountain West, dragging in an unseasonably cold air mass with temperatures in some areas 15 to 20 degrees below normal, the USA TODAY Network previously reported.
Forecasters said the system could bring unusually heavy snowfall for late June. The National Weather Service said heavy snow is possible in mountainous areas of southwestern Montana and central Idaho, especially above about 6,500 feet.
Forecasters warned that the combination of low temperatures, strong winds and dense, wet snow is expected to create dangerous conditions, including the risk of hypothermia and road closures due to fallen trees.
The winter storm and weather conditions are expected to continue until June 29, with weather warnings in effect until mid-morning or midday, depending on location. Winter conditions may impact travel during the busy Fourth of July season.
Heavy snow possible in parts of the northern Rocky Mountains
The Georgetown Lake region and other remote and high-elevation areas of Montana could see 4 to 8 inches of snow, with up to about 12 inches possible in the highest elevations, the National Weather Service said. Forecasters said snow levels at Homestake Pass and MacDonald Pass were “temporarily reduced, with the potential for minor muddy accumulations.”
The Bureau of Meteorology advised that people should consider delaying travel to remote areas and high-altitude areas. “If you must travel, consider carrying a winter storm kit that includes tire chains, booster cables, flashlights, shovels, blankets, extra clothing, etc. Also, bring water, a first aid kit, and anything else that will help you survive if you get stranded.”
In northwestern Beaverhead County, Montana, heavy, wet snow is expected to fall in the area, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasters said up to 3 inches of additional snow is expected near the pass, with “more than 6 inches of additional snow over the pass.”
Elsewhere, up to 6 inches of snow could fall on the Independence Day Summit in Idaho over the next few days, the weather service said. In Wyoming, snowfall is expected to be primarily confined to higher elevations, with most mountain regions expected to accumulate about 4 to 6 inches over the same time period.
Strong winds and showers forecast for some areas
The system also brought showers and scattered thunderstorms as it moved through the region, with the potential for a brief reduction in heavier rain and occasional wind gusts.
The National Weather Service in Great Falls, Montana, announced early on June 28 that strong winds were expected in parts of north-central Montana. “Wind speeds will peak early tonight, with several gusts exceeding 50 mph and potentially creating difficult crosswinds,” the agency said.
The weather service also warned of a “slight risk of excessive rainfall” leading to flash flooding in Glacier National Park into the evening of June 28, adding that the heaviest rainfall was expected in the evening.
Contributed by Doyle Rice and Brandi D. Addison, USA TODAY Network
