How to explain three feet of unseasonal snow engulfing some parts of Montana in what clearly isn't just winter weather but clearly winter snow. In the U.S., winter officially starts Dec. 21. and it's only Sept. 30.

Semantics aside, it's officially not winter yet but that won't matter to Montanans and to a lot of people astride the Rockies. Montana, in particular, has been groaning under unseasonably cold September weather since late last week. The National Weather Service (NWS) on Sunday reported parts of Montana are under almost two feet of snow. Browning was engulfed by 23 inches and East Glacier Park by 21 inches.

NWS said another two feet of snow might fall on Montana by Monday morning. It also issued a blizzard warning Sunday for Glacier, western Teton, western Pondera, and northern Lewis and Clark Counties.

Wind gusts as high as 55 mph are possible. Visibility is below a quarter mile. High winds have upfooted trees, knocking down electric posts and cutting off power to thousands of shivering residents.

Great Falls recorded a preliminary reading of 9.7 inches of snow Saturday, which might be a new daily snowfall record. The previous record set in 1954 was 6.1 inches.

These atrocious and early winter conditions forced Montana Gov. Steve Bullock to quickly declare a "winter storm emergency" Sunday night across the state. The governor's office said as much as three feet of snow had fallen in some parts of Montana.

"With an unprecedented winter storm throwing our state a surprise in September, state and local governments are working closely together to protect the health and safety of Montanans and our top priority is making sure that happens," said Bullock.

What has surprised meteorologists is the amount of snow that's fallen, and not that there's snow in September.

"If the forecast pans out, this would rival or surpass the 1934 winter storm which was for many areas the top early-season snowfall event on record," said CNN meteorologist Ivan Cabrera.

He said winds as fast as 55 mph and whiteout conditions because of the intense snowfall.

On the other hand, the NWS said this winter storm "has the potential to be a historically significant early-season snow event."

"When is the last time you've seen a September like this? i have never seen a September snow like this," said NWS meteorologist Don Britton, who has lived in Great Falls for more than 40 years.

Britton says this huge winter storm is a record breaker.

"That one set back in 1934? That was broken," he believes.

"That was a three-day record of over 13 inches of snow. We've already had over 14 inches of snow in two days, so that record is pretty much obliterated."

In Spokane, Washington, the storm was the first time the city recorded snow this early since officials began keeping records in 1881. Forecasters expect the winter weather to continue through the night.

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Representational image Getty Images / Drew Angerer
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