KHEW News Staff | As of Oct. 13, 2026. This is a storm recap, not a live road report.
Great Falls picked up about 16 inches of snow over the weekend of Oct. 10 and 11, and Sunday was the snowiest October day on record there, KRTV reported.
The station reported 6.4 inches on Saturday, Oct. 10, and 9.3 inches on Sunday, Oct. 11, both daily records. KRTV reported slick roads and said accumulation varied a lot from place to place. A companion KRTV story reported power outages.
That last point matters up here. The Great Falls total is for one city. It does not tell you what fell in Havre, Box Elder or Rocky Boy. Wind, terrain, elevation and temperature can change snowfall and road conditions over short distances. The sources KHEW reviewed do not give a snowfall total, an outage, a road closure or a travel restriction for any of those three communities.
Where to check right now
- Roads: The Montana Department of Transportation’s 511 site at 511mt.net has current travel conditions.
- Weather: The National Weather Service posts forecasts, warnings and observed totals.
- Power: Check your electric provider’s outage information. A regional outage report does not mean every household lost power.
- Schools: Closures and late starts are decided by each district. Check your school’s own channels that morning.
Roads that were slick right after the storm can improve, or refreeze, as conditions change. Note the time on any report you rely on.
First storm of the season
An early storm can arrive before a lot of people have their vehicles ready. Tires, lights, wipers and braking distance are worth a look before a long drive between towns, especially for people who work early or late shifts. A winter kit sized to your own route, along with a plan for medication, phone charging and safe heating at home, can save trouble when weather turns fast.
One storm does not show a long term trend. The National Weather Service is the source for how this one ranks in the record books.
If you see a hazard on the road, call 911 in an emergency and give an exact location.
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