Winter Storm Warning Issued for Upper Blackfoot and MacDonald Pass Through Friday
This alert is no longer in effect.
NOAA issued it on April 6, 2026, 4 months ago. Warnings of this kind stay in effect for hours to a few days, so this page is a historical record of what was issued, not a current warning. For conditions where you are right now, check weather.gov (US), weather.gc.ca (Canada), the Met Office (UK), or the Bureau of Meteorology (Australia).
Areazine synthesizes this NWS weather alert directly from NOAA's official public data feed. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for the Upper Blackfoot and MacDonald Pass regions, with heavy snow and 65 mph wind gusts expected to make travel difficult through Friday noon.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Winter Storm Warning
- Affected area
- Upper Blackfoot and MacDonald Pass, Montana
- Issued
- April 6, 2026
- Issuing authority
- NWS Great Falls
Storm notices can cover different combinations of wind, hail, lightning, and rainfall. Use the original notice for the hazards and boundaries attached to this specific record.
Record status: historical. It was issued 4 months ago; use the issuing agency's live warning service for current conditions in Upper Blackfoot and MacDonald Pass, Montana.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in Great Falls, MT, has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the Upper Blackfoot and MacDonald Pass regions. This alert is effective from 6:00 PM MDT this evening through 12:00 PM MDT Friday, March 13, 2026. A Winter Storm Warning indicates an 80% or greater chance of impactful winter weather conditions.
Affected Areas
The warning specifically covers the Upper Blackfoot and MacDonald Pass areas (MTZ315), including the Upper Blackfoot Valley, the Lincoln area, Flesher Pass, and MacDonald Pass.
What You Should Do
Residents and travelers are advised to take the following precautions:
- If travel is necessary, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.
- Be prepared for difficult travel conditions where tire chains may be required for some vehicles.
- Monitor the latest road conditions by calling 5 1 1 or visiting the MDT Road Report website.
Expected Conditions
- Snow Accumulation: Total snow accumulations are expected to reach between 3 and 6 inches in the Upper Blackfoot Valley and Lincoln area. Higher elevations, including Flesher Pass and MacDonald Pass, may see between 6 and 12 inches.
- Wind: Wind gusts are forecast to reach as high as 65 mph.
- Visibility: Significant visibility reductions are expected on Thursday due to blowing snow.
- Travel Impacts: Travel could be very difficult due to the combination of heavy snow and high winds.
Timeline
- Onset: The warning begins at 6:00 PM MDT on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.
- Duration: Hazardous conditions are expected to persist through Thursday.
- Expiration: The warning is scheduled to expire at 12:00 PM MDT on Friday, March 13, 2026.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
Related Weather Alerts
All Weather Alerts →Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this NWS weather alert.