Montana
Expect extreme cold and increased avalanche danger this weekend
Extreme cold will take over western Montana this weekend
Montana Public Radio | By Aaron Bolton
Many parts of western Montana are in store for bitterly cold temperatures tonight. Some areas may break records.
Temperatures could dip between -20F to -30F across western Montana.
Northwestern Montana will be the coldest. Missoula may hit 26 degrees below zero and Kalispell negative 31 degrees. Both are likely to break daily temperature records set in 1993.
National Weather Service meteorologist Alex Lukinbeal said Potomac in the Swan Valley is expected to reach 47 degrees below zero.
“That’s getting close to that all-time western Montana temperature of 53 below zero,” Lukinbeal said.
Lukinbeal said these temperatures don’t include windchills. He adds these temperatures are dangerous and frostbite can happen within five to 10 minutes.
Winter storm creates avalanche danger across west Montana
Montana Public Radio | By John Hooks
The winter storm hitting Montana has created considerable avalanche danger across much of northwest and southwest Montana.
The Flathead Avalanche Center is reporting considerable danger in the Whitefish, Flathead and Swan mountain ranges, as well as Glacier National Park.
Avalanche danger is high for the Kootenai National Forest and the Bitterroot Mountains.
Ian Hoyer, forecaster with the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center, advised caution for those across southwest Montana in Friday’s forecast.
“Don’t push your luck today. Avalanches can break wide and be triggered from afar. Avoid traveling on or beneath any steep slope,” Hoyer said.
The Gallatin center is reporting considerable danger across the Madison, Southern Gallatin and Lionhead ranges, as well as areas around Cooke City, West Yellowstone and Island Park.
Avalanche danger is moderate in the Northern Gallatin and Bridger ranges.
A 16,700-acre logging project outside Missoula, Mont. will continue after a federal judge ruled the US Bureau of Land Management adequately reviewed potential impacts to endangered grizzly bears and Canada lynx.
The agency properly calculated road density and the increased traffic through the Garnet Mountain range even if several routes have since become impassible through vegetation growth and will have to be cleared in critical habitat areas, according to an order issued Thursday by the US District Court for the District of Montana.
Judge Dana L Christensen granted summary judgment for the bureau in 2024 lawsuit over its approval of …
BILLINGS— Sponsorship of businesses on Montana highway exit signs have doubled in cost, pricing out some small business owners.
Montana Logos, which manages the signs, renegotiated its contract within the last year with the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT), which resulted in prices doubling for most customers. They refer to the signs as tourist-oriented directional signs (TODS).
Watch the report:
Highway ad sign costs double, pricing out Montana business owners
Transportation officials say they increased the costs to match rising costs. According to Bob Heiser, MDT Right of Way bureau chief, the department and Montana Logos have not increased costs for years.
“The contract was up for renewal this past year. And during that renewal process, we asked them to look at this program. And that’s when we discovered that there hadn’t been any rate changes in at least 21 years,” Heiser told MTN.
Heiser said the increased revenue will fund highway projects and other infrastructure.
“We feel it’s still an affordable way for some of those businesses to have some advertisement along our interstates,” he added.
Some business owners in Big Horn County disagree.
“I just don’t understand how a company can gouge small businesses. That wasn’t in my budget,” said Kristy Mastin, owner of the KOA campground in Hardin.
Vanessa Willardson/Q2
She received an invoice for $4,800 in February to keep her business on the exit signs. She paid $2,400 last year for the same service.
“I was dumbfounded,” said Mastin.
Other campground owners in the county shared Mastin’s shock.
Vanessa Willardson/Q2
“We can’t afford that as a small business to suddenly have one aspect of our advertising raised that much,” said Jamie Redger, owner of 7th Ranch RV Camp in Garryowen.
His costs quadrupled in a year, increasing from $1,200 to $4,800, after Montana Logos told him he had to pay to be on the signs for a full year. In the past, he had only paid for half the year.
“At this point, I’ve told Montana Logos that I don’t plan to renew with them,” said Redger.
Vanessa Willardson/Q2
Another campground, Grandview Campground and RV Park, may be disappearing from the signs as well.
“We have to ask ourselves, what can we cut out? And Montana Logo is probably going to be it,” said the campground’s owner, Laurie Tschetter.
She is concerned about how the lack of advertising will affect the tourism industry in her community.
“We are kind of the backbone of bringing a lot of tourism dollars back into this state,” said Tschetter.
Vanessa Willardson/Q2
The business owners are working with the Hardin Chamber of Commerce, in hopes the state will hear their voices and give them a grant.
“I want to support these businesses and our communities and whatever we need to do next, whether it’s a letter or taking it up a little higher. That’s all we can do,” said Alexandria Edwards, with the Hardin Chamber of Commerce.
The community is also starting to consider advertising alternatives.
Vanessa Willardson/Q2
“It would be cheaper just to go get a billboard or put their money into something that would be more fruitful for them,” said Edwards.
“I’ve watched different advertising things go by the wayside. And maybe Montana Logos needs to find that out,” added Tschetter.
Montana Logos did not return multiple calls and messages from MTN News requesting comment.
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