Arctic blast hits Hi-Line

A wind-chill warning is in effect for the Hi-Line through noon Sunday, with predictions of temperatures as far as minus 28 degrees tonight.

The Weather Channel predicts a high of minus 5 Saturday.

The University of Montana, all Missoula County public schools and many other western Montana schools were closed today based on the weather and a forecast that includes a blizzard warning stretching from Glacier National Park to south of Hamilton.

Some sections of Montana highways were closed this morning as well.

The National Weather Service said blizzard conditions will be developing Friday and through Saturday morning across western Montana as a strong Arctic air mass crosses the Continental Divide. Travel could become dangerous with blowing and drifting snow and whiteout conditions. In addition, temperatures are expected to fall below zero with wind chills as low as 40 degrees below zero. The NWS has issued a winter storm warning for southwestern, central and south-central Montana.

Missoula Public Schools said it would announce decisions on Friday night and Saturday activities, including basketball games, by 2 p.m. Friday. All Hi-Line school activities were on as scheduled today.

The Department of Transportation closed U.S. Highway 191 in central Montana between Harlowton and Eddies Corner just after midnight Thursday due to blowing and drifting snow, heavy snow and poor visibility. Traffic is being rerouted around a section of Interstate 90 near Columbus after several semis stopped and blocked the lanes because of heavy snow and poor visibility. The westbound lanes of Interstate 90 from Reedpoint to Park City were closed Friday morning because semis were stuck on the hill, the DOT said.

A section of U.S. Highway 89 from the Kiowa Junction west of Browning to St. Mary also was closed due to the weather.