Truckers will hit more wintry storms this week in Northern Plains (with forecast video)

Worst conditions will likely be late Wednesday through Friday

(Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

Several rounds of wintry weather could slow down truckers the rest of this week from the northern Rockies to the Great Lakes. The National Weather Service (NWS) is expecting the worst conditions late Wednesday through Friday.

Some areas have already seen light snowfall accumulations of 3 inches or less this week. But Monday’s 1.4 inches in Glasgow, Montana, was a daily record for that city.

SONAR Critical Events and radar: Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020, 8 a.m. EDT

A series of fronts will move across the region, one of which is producing snow, sleet and freezing rain as of Tuesday morning.

From north-central to south-central Montana, snowfall will be heaviest from Wednesday afternoon to Thursday. More than 10 inches could pile up in some high elevations, along with windy conditions and blowing snow.

Then, this system will produce a swath of moderate snowfall from eastern portions of Montana and Wyoming to Minnesota, northern Wisconsin, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and parts of central Ontario, Canada.

Snowfall totals of up to 10 inches are possible in some locations — a substantial amount for an early season storm. Wind gusts of 35 mph or higher will lead to blowing snow and reduced visibility. Timing of impacts should be midnight to midafternoon Thursday across the western portion of the target zone, and midafternoon Thursday to around sunrise Friday across the eastern portion.

https://vimeo.com/470146507

Interstate highways where drivers could hit potential road closures include Interstates 15, 25, 29, 80, 90 and 94. Some bridges and overpasses may become especially slick for drivers heading through places like Great Falls, Helena and Billings, Montana; Sheridan and Gillette, Wyoming; Bismarck and Fargo, North Dakota; Pierre and Rapid City, South Dakota; Minneapolis-St. Paul; Eau Claire, Wisconsin; as well as Marquette, Michigan.

Click here for more FreightWaves articles by Nick Austin.

Upcoming FreightWaves Events
Compliance

Brokerage Compliance Symposium

The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.

October 26, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
Awards

F3 Awards Dinner

The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.

October 26, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
FreightTech

F3: Future of Freight Festival

Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.

October 27, 2026 – October 28, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
Compliance Brokerage Compliance Symposium Oct 26 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now
Awards F3 Awards Dinner Oct 26 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now
FreightTech F3: Future of Freight Festival Oct 27 – Oct 28 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now