Winter Weather

New to Montana? Here are 5 things to know before driving in winter conditions.

Brutally cold temperatures and snow are expected across Montana next week.

As the host of "Kickin' With Carin, Middays on KMBR FM," I have literally said the word "SNOW" during an on-air weather forecast more this year than any other year of my life as a broadcaster! "Snow flurries, the white stuff, precipitation, the other four letter word"! You name it, and I've done it; used the term "snow" on the radio in the most "as a matter of fact" way so that I don't stress out the listener or myself for that matter. I mean, you still have to be firm about how the topic of hazardous weather is revealed so that people know what to expect in taking precautions; however, some subtleties have to remain. But hey, I'm just the messenger. Imagine how meteorologists across Montana and the nation feel about the dynamics of this year's weather pattern, then having to relay it to hundreds of thousands of viewers and listeners as if they're the ones that caused such drastic conditions in the first place. On either side of the mic, it's safe to say that we are "over" the current state of the weather in Montana. Besides, on paper, it's officially SPRING!

In true form, February's winter weather came like a lion, and this morning's early morning storm followed suit. Unfortunately, the aftermath of the storm and drop in temperatures today caused many accidents across the state, including the 40-mile stretch on I-90 from Deer Lodge to Butte. How do I know for sure this was the case? I experienced it firsthand during my commute from Anaconda to Butte this morning. First off, I learned of the harsh road conditions from Anaconda to Deer Lodge from a friend who travels to Deer Lodge for work. As for my encounter on I-90 this morning, the first accident I encountered involved a semi mangled in the median on the west side of Fairmont Hill, an area I have commonly referred to as the Bermuda Triangle of roadways. NOT because vehicles "disappear" in that area, but because of the bizarre accidents that EERILY and repeatedly occur there in the SAME LOCATIONS.