Garden City Harvest grower Brihannala Morgan gazes over her five-row plot after harvesting the last of what she could from the plants in snow that hit Missoula, Mont., Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. Morgan got the last of her tomatoes and peppers, hoping they will ripen off the vine at home rather than freeze in the garden. (Sara Diggins/The Missoulian via AP)
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GREAT FALLS, Mont. (AP) - Areas of the northern Rocky Mountains looked more like mid-winter rather than early fall on Sunday as a snowstorm dumped record amounts of wind-driven snow that caused hazardous travel conditions and scattered power outages.
Winter storm warnings were posted for parts of western Montana, northern Idaho and northeast Washington. Snow also was forecast for areas in Wyoming, Utah, Oregon, Nevada and California.
The brunt of the storm hit Montana where up to 2 feet (61 centimeters) of snow fell Saturday in the mountains and a record 14 inches (35.5 centimeters) fell in Great Falls with snow still falling Sunday.
Montana Gov. Steve Bullock declared an emergency Sunday, allowing the state to mobilize resources to help affected areas.
"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," Bullock said in a statement. "Montanans should heed all warnings from state and local officials, travel safely, and be cautious during this time."
Major interstates and highways remained open, but snow and ice covered many stretches of roadway in western Montana.
The storm was expected to wind down late Sunday and early Monday.
A bumblebee stops on a sunflower in Missoula, Mont., Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. Morgan got the last of her tomatoes and peppers, hoping they will ripen off the vine at home rather than freeze in the garden. (Sara Diggins/The Missoulian via AP)
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Pedestrians make their way along a snow covered street lined with trees that still have their leaves during a fall snowstorm in Helena, Mont., on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. Strong winds and heavy snow caused power outages and temporary road closures in northwestern Montana as a wintry storm threatened to drop several feet of snow in some areas of the northern Rocky Mountains. (AP Photo/Matt Volz)
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Connor Cruz, age 5, inspects snow laden sunflowers during a snow storm, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, in Great Falls, Mont. Strong winds and heavy snow caused power outages and temporary road closures in northwestern Montana as a wintry storm threatened to drop several feet of snow in some areas of the northern Rocky Mountains. (Rion Sanders/The Great Falls Tribune via AP)
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Sunflowers bow and break under the falling wet snow in Great Falls, Mont., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. Strong winds and heavy snow caused power outages and temporary road closures in northwestern Montana as a wintry storm threatened to drop several feet of snow in some areas of the northern Rocky Mountains. (Rion Sanders/The Great Falls Tribune via AP)
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Fans brace against the wind and snow during a football game between Centerville High School and Belt High School, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, in Centerville, Mont. Strong winds and heavy snow caused power outages and temporary road closures in northwestern Montana as a wintry storm threatened to drop several feet of snow in some areas of the northern Rocky Mountains. (Rion Sanders/The Great Falls Tribune via AP)
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Fans brace against the wind and snow at a football game between Centerville High School and Belt High School, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, in Centerville, Mont. Strong winds and heavy snow caused power outages and temporary road closures in northwestern Montana as a wintry storm threatened to drop several feet of snow in some areas of the northern Rocky Mountains. (Rion Sanders/The Great Falls Tribune via AP)
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Sunflowers bow and break under the wet snow falling in Great Falls, Mont., on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. Strong winds and heavy snow caused power outages and temporary road closures in northwestern Montana as a wintry storm threatened to drop several feet of snow in some areas of the northern Rocky Mountains. (Rion Sanders/The Great Falls Tribune via AP)
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Ne'vaeh Allison clears snow from the Centerville High School football field before the school's game against Belt High in Centerville, Mont., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. Strong winds and heavy snow caused power outages and temporary road closures in northwestern Montana as a wintry storm threatened to drop several feet of snow in some areas of the northern Rocky Mountains. (Rion Sanders/The Great Falls Tribune via AP)
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