Thursday morning roads in the Billings region were slick with ice, and more freezing rain is expected before precipitation switches to snow in the afternoon.
Snow is expected to begin falling earlier in the day north and east of Billings, according to the National Weather Service.
Cars drive down an ice-covered South Frontage Road as freezing rain moves through the area Thursday, February 8, 2018.
CASEY PAGE, Gazette StaffPrevious estimates of accumulation from this storm have been downgraded since Wednesday, with only 4 to 6 inches expected in Billings, as well as locations west to Livingston, east to Ekalaka and north of Roundup.
A band of the region including the areas around Forsyth and Miles City could see higher snow totals up to 8 inches, according to the weather agency.
Snow is expected to keep falling through Friday evening.
Postal officials are asking for the public’s help in keeping mailboxes, steps and sidewalks clear of snow and ice so letter carriers are able …
Frigid air from the north will push Thursday's overnight low into the negative single digits in Billings, NWS predicts. The high Friday is forecast to peak at 2 degrees before falling into the negative teens overnight.
Wind chill values of minus 11 and minus 29 are projected for Thursday night and Friday night, respectively.
Substantial snowfall in the mountains around Cooke City prompted the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center to issue an avalanche warning for the area late Thursday morning.
"Heavy snow and strong wind is creating very dangerous avalanche conditions," the advisory reads. "The avalanche danger is rated high on all slopes. Natural and human-triggered avalanches are likely today. Avalanche terrain and avalanche run-out zones should be avoided."
It's snowed on 11 of the last 12 days in the Cooke City area, the center's daily avalanche report noted Thursday. Nearly a foot of new snow was reported Wednesday through Thursday morning.
