Hill County officials say the city of Havre received about 15 inches (38 centimeters) of snow. The heavy wet snow and wind knocked down trees and power lines.
NorthWestern Energy reported about 7,000 customers were without power from Havre east to Dodson. Another 2,700 customers of electric cooperatives were also without power, according to the Montana Electric Cooperatives Association.
Crews were working to repair damaged transmission and distribution lines, said Butch Larcombe, spokesman for NorthWestern Energy.
Classes were canceled Tuesday at Havre Public Schools and at Montana State University-Northern in Havre along with schools in Harlem, Chinook, Box Elder and Rocky Boy. Classes were not held at Stone Child College on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation. Reservation roads were closed Tuesday morning due to poor driving conditions, while Havre residents were urged not to travel around town due to downed power lines.
The Havre Daily News did not publish a newspaper on Tuesday.
The Hi-Line towns of Hingham and Chester also reported a foot (30 centimeters) of snow.
The Department of Transportation says power lines were down or hanging low across U.S. Highway 2 near Harlem and Dodson. Semis slid off the road in the area, the department reported.
Still snowing in havre. Lots of damage everywhere #mtwx @mikerawlins @NWSGreatFalls #wutv pic.twitter.com/twNDEr0SDh
— Jasmine Miller (@Jazz1359) October 3, 2017
9:45 a.m.
A winter storm dropped up to 15 inches of snow in north-central Montana, closing roads and schools and downing power lines.
The National Weather Service reports Havre had received nearly 15 inches of snow by 6 a.m. Tuesday. The weight of the snow and wind uprooted trees throughout the city and downed power lines, leaving more than 1,000 customers without power.
Classes were canceled Tuesday at Havre Public Schools and at Montana State University-Northern in Havre along with schools and Stone Child College on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation. Reservation roads were closed Tuesday morning due to poor driving conditions, while Havre residents were urged not to travel around town due to downed power lines.
The Department of Transportation says power lines were down or hanging low across U.S. Highway 2 near Harlem and Dodson.