Continued snow and cold keeps driving conditions poor

The return of cold and snow has continued poor driving conditions in the area, with highways in this regions listed as having snow and ice, even some black ice, and driving in towns still a problem in some areas despite work to remove snow and ice.

Continued dense fog also is causing problems for driving.

Havre Public Works is recommending that drivers in the area stick to the most well-traveled roads as much as possible amid the difficult driving conditions caused by recent weather.

After historic snowfall in December the area has seen some significant fluctuation in temperature that has created difficult driving conditions, from icy roads to slush-covered streets, which Havre Public Works Director Dave Peterson said his department is trying to keep up with as best they can.

He said recent weather was warm enough to melt some of the snow, but not warm enough for the water to drain as storm drains around the area remained frozen.

Over the weekend, he said, they saw a good deal of slush buildup but that has since refrozen creating rough streets and berms that have become difficult for local drivers to navigate.

Peterson said his department is looking to break down some of the berms and clean up the most well-traveled intersections, but employees and equipment are spread thinner than he would like dealing with things like water main breaks as well.

In the meantime, he said, people should stick to the most well-traveled streets as much as possible as they are in better condition, but what the area really needs to see improvement is a warm spell.

He said Havre needs a little bit of heat for long enough that the water can drain, but he has no idea when that would come.

"I don't know what this weather is going to do," Peterson said.

National Weather Service had a special weather statement this morning saying isolated to scattered snow showers are expected in this area through the afternoon, which could create slick spots on road surfaces.

Montana Department of Transportation's online road conditions map this morning showed black ice from Chester to Galata on U.S. Highway 2 and from Chester to the junction with Montana Secondary Highway 564 on Secondary Highway 223.

Snow and ice are reported on Secondary 223 the rest of the way to Fort Benton and from south of Box Elder to Loma. Black ice is reported from Loma to Fort Benton scattered frost and ice part of the way from Fort Benton to Great Falls.

Most other highways in the area are reported as snow-covered, including Highway 2 from Rudyard to Chinook and U.S. 2 from Havre to Big Sandy as well as Montana Secondary Highways 232 and 234.

Highway 2 from Chinook to Fort Belknap Agency was reported as having snow and ice and scattered snow and ice east of the agency and north on Highway 241 and south on Montana Secondary Highway 66.

The local forecast calls for a chance of continued snow through this evening and a chance of dense fog again Wednesday morning.

The forecast for the rest of this week predicts highs mainly in the 20s through Friday with lows in the teens and no more snow predicted from Wednesday through Friday.

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Havre Daily News managing editor Tim Leeds contributed to this report.