Early snow hits Hi-Line; most of the west suffers

North-central Montana got its first taste of winter this week, although the dusting was light compared to other parts of the state and nation and was mild compared to a storm that thrashed the northern plains a few weeks ago.

Snow started falling in this area Sunday, with the white stuff continuing to drift down through Monday afternoon.

Other parts of the state were blanketed, with parts of the southwest receiving nearly a foot — or more — of snow, as did other states including in Idaho, Nevada and California, where areas saw a half-a-foot to more than a foot of snow.

The storm also brought winter problems, with news agencies reporting multiple crashes in and around Butte due to driving conditions — including a crash involving a police car — and some parts of the country experiencing power outages.

The forecast for the rest of the week is not calling for winter weather, although Weather Service predicts a chance of rain and some snow after midnight Halloween.

Weather Service forecasts highs in the 40s and 50s through the week, with lows in the 20s.

The prediction calls for sunny skies Wednesday and Friday, with a 20 percent chance of rain Thursday in isolated showers and a 20 percent chance of precipitation Thursday night, including rain possibly turning to snow after midnight.

Temperatures are expected to remain in the 40s to 50s with lows in the 20s through the weekend, and with a slight chance of rain and snow through the weekend, Weather Service predicts.

Accuweather and the Weather Channel are making similar forecasts for the rest of the week through the weekend.

Snow and cold weather blew through the central part of the United States last week, hitting the eastern Dakotas and the Great Lakes region then blowing east to the Appalachians.

A massive storm hit the area, including touching Montana, earlier in the month with heavy snow leading to the deaths of two people and thousands of head of cattle in South Dakota.

The winter forecast for the rest of the year is up in the air, with some predictors, including Weather Service and The Weather Channel saying almost anything could happen, with other prognosticators predicting cold and wet or cold but drier than normal winters.