A Winter Storm Watch remains in effect from Wednesday evening through Saturday morning.

Timing and main impact: snow is expected develop over southwest Montana Wednesday night and expand northward through the day on Thursday, and continue through Saturday morning.

The snow could become heavy at times on Thursday and Friday.

* Snow accumulations: one to two feet is possible in the mountains with 6 to 12 inches on the plains. 3 to 6 inches is possible in the valleys of southwest Montana.

* Winds: north winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph are possible across north central Montana. These winds could result in blowing and drifting snow across north central Montana Thursday night through Saturday morning.

* Visibility: local visibilities of less than one half mile in heavy snow and blowing snow could occur.

* Other impacts: mountain passes will quickly become snow covered and slippery at the onset of the snowfall.

Warmer ground temperatures at the lower elevations could lead to melting of the snow on roadways Thursday afternoon.  These roads could become icy and snow covered after sunset Thursday.

Those working or recreating outdoors need to be prepared for rapidly changing conditions.

* Locations affected include: Fairfield... Choteau... Chester... White Sulphur Springs... Battle Ridge Pass... Bozeman... Bozeman Pass... Targhee Pass... West Yellowstone... Stanford... Lewistown... Lewistown Divide... Boulder... Boulder Hill... Elk Park
Pass... Homestake pass... Whitehall... Shelby... Chinook... Big Sandy... Fort Benton... Browning... Marias Pass... Conrad... Havre... Cut Bank... Townsend... Great Falls... Kings Hill Pass... Big Hole Pass... Chief Joseph Pass... Dillon... Monida Pass...
Flesher Pass... Helena... Lincoln... MacDonald Pass... Rogers Pass... Ennis... Norris Hill... Raynolds Pass... Twin Bridges.
Precautionary/preparedness actions...

A Winter Storm Watch means there is a potential for significant snow... sleet... or ice accumulations that may impact travel.

More From 100.7 KXLB