GREAT FALLS — The Great Falls Office of the National Weather Service (NWS) took to social media Saturday with visuals of snowfall at higher elevations in central and southwest Montana — and warnings of afternoon and evening precipitation.
“Snow fell overnight across the higher elevations of central and southwest Montana with many areas above 6000 feet seeing several inches of accumulation in grassy areas,” wrote NWS on Facebook. “Some areas along Highway 12 & 89 near Deep Creek and White Sulphur Springs continue to see snowfall.”
The snowfall was predicted to transition to rain from Saturday morning to afternoon.
According to a Public Information Statement from NWS Great Falls, “scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms this evening will produce widespread small hail and/or graupel.”
New Weather Graphic Issued: Sat AM Snow Cams. More info at https://t.co/9noRXIoCJS. #mtwx pic.twitter.com/ojI7rzZEbW
— NWS Great Falls (@NWSGreatFalls) June 8, 2019
The term graupel refers to a type of precipitation harder than traditional snowflakes and softer than hail. Minor accumulations of graupel were predicted via the Public Information Statement released around noon Saturday.
Eastern Montana saw worsened conditions than its western counterpart Saturday, with pea-sized hail reported near Miles City, NWS Great Falls tweeted. Heavy, peanut-sized hail was also seen in Bozeman at approximately the same time.
The Public Information Statement cautioned those considering recreational or outdoor activities planned this Saturday to prepare for small hail and/or graupel.
U.S. Highway 212 was closed at Beartooth Pass early Saturday as a result of snow, ice and heavy drifting. It is located 13 miles south of Red Lodge near the state line with Wyoming, and National Park Service officials stated Saturday they are working to open the roadway by Sunday.
141pm – Pea sized hail reported with a thunderstorm 1 mile se of Montana City 6 minutes ago. #mtwx
— NWS Great Falls (@NWSGreatFalls) June 8, 2019
MTN News and STORMTracker Weather will continue to provide updated information on weather activity across the state as conditions develop.
