Glasgow, Montana — Persistent freezing fog continues to blanket large portions of northeast Montana, creating dangerous travel conditions and raising concerns about potential power disruptions as rime ice accumulates across the region.
According to the National Weather Service office in Glasgow, a Dense Fog Advisory remains in effect through late Saturday morning. Forecasters say freezing fog is expected to linger overnight and into the early morning hours, allowing frost and rime ice to steadily build up on roads, bridges, trees, and power lines.
Visibility in some areas has dropped to near zero at times, especially on secondary roads and rural highways where untreated surfaces are quickly becoming slick. Drivers are being urged to slow down, use low-beam headlights, and allow significantly more stopping distance than usual.
Meteorologists also warned that the continued accumulation of rime ice on electrical infrastructure could lead to scattered power outages in affected counties. Even light ice buildup can add substantial weight to power lines, increasing the risk of sagging lines or service interruptions, particularly if light winds develop.
The advisory area covers multiple counties in northeast Montana where fog has remained stubbornly entrenched for several days. In these locations, icy conditions are not limited to roadways — sidewalks, parking lots, and farm access roads are also becoming hazardous.
Transportation officials caution that the most dangerous travel window remains overnight through mid-morning, when temperatures stay below freezing and visibility is at its worst. Conditions may gradually improve later Saturday morning as fog begins to lift, but patchy ice is expected to remain even after visibility improves.
Residents are encouraged to postpone non-essential travel when possible, check local road reports before heading out, and monitor weather updates closely. Anyone who must travel should be prepared for rapidly changing conditions, including sudden drops in visibility and unexpected icy patches.
The National Weather Service will continue to monitor conditions and issue updates as needed while freezing fog remains a threat across northeast Montana.
