Some Montana Kids Get a Rare September Snow Day After Historic Snowfall

The September snow storm created hazardous travel conditions and knocked out power across the northern Rocky Mountains on Saturday and Sunday.

Montana's Gov. Steve Bullock issued an executive order declaring an emergency in the state because of the severe early season storm.

"With an unprecedented winter storm throwing our state a surprise in September, state and local governments are working closely together to protect the health and safety of Montanans and our top priority is making sure that happens,” Bullock said in a news release.

According to the release, the areas hardest hit include Cascade, Flathead, Glacier, Lake, Lewis and Clark, Lincoln, Pondera, and Teton counties and the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. The Blackfeet Indian Reservation, Glacier County, and Pondera County also issued local emergency declarations.

The Blackfeet Nation Emergency Operation Center reported 48 inches of snow in Browning, Montana, as of Sunday evening. Schools in Browning and tribal offices were closed Monday, KRTV reported.

Schools also closed Monday in Conrad, Cut Bank, Shelby, Dutton, Choteau, Fairfield and Valier, according to KRTV.

The American Red Cross opened a shelter at the Blackfeet United Methodist Parish in Browning, NBC Montana reported.

Dupuyer Creek in Teton County saw 37 inches of snow, the National Weather Service reported; 28 inches fell at East Glacier in Pondera County. Great Falls, in Cascade County, reported 19.3 inches.

The NWS issued a blizzard warning for Glacier, western Teton, western Pondera, and Northern Lewis and Clark counties. Visibility dropped to near or below a quarter of mile, and drifting snow covered several primary roadways.

A jackknifed tractor-trailer blocked the entrance ramp to the Teton Rest Area on Interstate 15 about 8 a.m., MDOT reported. The Highway Patrol was on the way.

U.S. Highway 89 was closed Sunday afternoon from Browning to St. Mary. State Highway 213 was closed from Cut Bank to the Canadian border.

(MORE: The Latest Forecast For Historic September Snowstorm)

High winds and wet snow broke tree limbs, knocked down trees and damaged power lines, causing scattered outages, the Associated Press reported.

Photos and video posted to social media showed the storm dumping several inches of snow in some areas.

Between 1,000 and 1,500 power outages were reported mainly in western Montana Saturday evening.

Strong storms also knocked out power to around 20,000 people in the Portland, Oregon metro area early Saturday evening. The thunderstorms brought hail and gusty winds, and even some circulating clouds to northern Oregon, according to KGW.com.

The NWS office in Spokane, Washington, said 19 inches of snow had been reported at Boyds, Washington, about 80 miles northwest of Spokane.

The NWS office in Seattle shared before and after photos of snow in Paradise, Washington, on Mount Ranier.

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