Freezing rain delays, closes schools

The predicted precipitation hit Wednesday night in the form of freezing rain, laying a quarter-inch or more coating of ice on cars, buildings and roads during an advisory from Cut Bank through half of North Dakota, creating dangerous driving conditions and delaying school or bus runs in some districts.

Rain started falling over night, turning to sleet and snow early in the morning.

National Weather Service issued freezing rain advisories from the Rocky Mountain Front along U.S. Highway 2 to the middle of North Dakota, and from Fort Benton north and east along U.S. Highway 87. The advisory warned of slippery driving and of the dangers of using cruise control in slick conditions.

Some north-central Montana schools were closed - Box Elder due to a basketball tournament, rather than weather - and others including a local university were starting late.

Montana State University-Northern's Facebook page this morning displayed a post that classes would not start till 11 a.m., while Havre Public School's parent portal had a message that classes would not start till 10 a.m. and no rural bus lines would run this morning.

A representative of the Rocky Boy schools said the schools and buses were closed this morning due to the weather, and a Hays-Lodge Pole schools representative said morning buses were an hour late, running at 9 a.m.

Meanwhile, with the Box Elder boys basketball team trying to make a run in Butte for its first state championship since 1990, the Box Elder schools were closed today.

Representatives of C/J-I in Chester, North Star schools in Rudyard and Gildford, Big Sandy schools, Chinook schools and Harlem schools all said their districts were running as usual, although rural bus routes might be a bit late due to the weather.

The local forecast called for highs in this region in the 20s, with more snow possible mainly later tonight and Friday morning. The weather then is expected to dry up and warm up, with lows Friday night in the teens to 20s and highs in the 40s Saturday and 50s Sunday.