The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for Northwest Montana. Weather officials say the peak of the storm is expected Friday night through Saturday with a second wave of possible heavy snow Sunday evening through Monday.

A major change to wintery weather is just around the corner for western Montana and could last at least into early next week.

Forecasters predict strong winds in Hawaii, Washington state, Montana and California with gusts as high as 65 mph.

The National Weather Service (NWS) had winter weather warnings in place for 14 states early Friday, with up to 4 feet of snow forecast for some parts of the country. Freezing temperatures may pose health risks,

Parts of northern Montana are forecasted to experience high winds that are expected to make travel difficult, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). The NWS warned in statements issued on Wednesday that high winds can not only worsen road conditions but also move debris, damage property and cause power outages.

Following a dry January that resulted in a rare slew of bluebird days in the Flathead Valley, a storm is expected to bring “complicated” conditions to the region in the form of fluctuating temperatures combined with potential freezing rain and snow,

"Heavy snowfall and strong winds may be sufficient to overload very weak snow layers and cause a widespread cycle of avalanches large enough to bury, injure, or kill a person."

On Friday at 8:24 a.m. an updated winter weather advisory was issued by the National Weather Service in effect until noon. The advisory is for Helena Valley, Meagher County Valleys,

That's because National Weather Service forecasters say confidence is high for a change to snow, along with freezing rain pushing into West Central Montana to end the week. That means a moderate risk for high impacts extending through the weekend and into early next week.

NBC Montana checked in with state officials to learn about the current ice conditions across Montana.A meteorologist from the National Weather Service in Great

On Friday at 11:26 a.m. an updated winter weather advisory was issued by the National Weather Service in effect until 3 p.m. The advisory is for Helena Valley, Meagher County

On Friday at 1:14 p.m. a winter storm watch was issued by the National Weather Service valid from Sunday 5 a.m. until Tuesday 5 a.m. The watch is for Cascade