Friday's fall snowstorm has kept Missoula City police so busy that an extra patrol had to be added.
The ice and snow made driving conditions dangerous for this time of year, and the city has seen an increase in slide related crashes.
Police say they'd would like drivers to keep in mind that the easiest way to prevent accidents during winter conditions, is to just slow down.
The big chill followed Friday's snow resulting in record low temps set on Saturday in both Missoula and Kalispell.
The weather also had ramifications for the University of Montana's homecoming parade in Missoula. Several groups pulled out of the annual event because of the frigid temps.
- Willi Brooks reporting from KPAX in Missoula
(from October 10, 2009)
Friday morning's snowfall in Western Montana not only caused headaches for drivers, it also made history. The National Weather Service measured an inch of snow at the airport, which tied a record for October 5th, which was set back in 1905.
Old Man Winter has arrived in Western Montana as the snow started falling overnight in the Bitterroot, Missoula, and Flathead valleys, bringing a taste of winter as a storm entered the area.
The snow was blowing around early Friday, falling on cars and sticking to streets. More snow is expected to fall throughout the day, which will make for tricky travel.
The morning snowfall coated roads across Western Montana with a skiff of snow as well as a glazing of ice, causing for a very slippery morning drive.
Several accidents were reported across Missoula, Ravalli, Lake and Flathead counties. Some of the hardest hit areas were Interstate 90 between Missoula and Frenchtown and U.S. Highway 93 between Hamilton and Lolo.
One Friday morning crash tied up traffic for several miles along Highway 93 between Florence and Lolo and left a 64-year-old man in critical condition at St. Patrick Hospital according to Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Sean Finley.
The four vehicle wreck happened near mile marker 80 just south of Lolo, and caused headaches for folks headed to Missoula, as emergency crews worked to untangle the mess.
There were a slew of accidents reported along I-90 between Airway Boulevard and the Wye west of Missoula. Accidents were also reported along Highway 93 in Lake County and on U.S. Highway 2 in Flathead County.
While there were some injury accidents reported by the Montana Highway Patrol, most of the crashes were slideoffs caused by the icy roads.
The National Weather Service says that 8.5" of snow was reported in Potomac; 6.0" of snow was recorded near Evaro and at Georgetown Lake; 5" of snow was recorded in Ronan, Charlo and Hamilton; 4.5" of snow was reported in Philipsburg; 4.0" of snow fell in Huson and near Seeley Lake; and 2.5" of snow was reported on the ground in Lolo.
- Mark Thorsell reporting from KPAX in Missoula
