The Kootenai-Cabinet region in Northwest Montana and North Idaho is under a Winter Storm Watch from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning.

The National Weather Service says heavy snow is possible with wind gusts as high as 40 miles per hour. There is a chance of moderate to major winter weather impacts with snow accumulations between 4 and 8 inches possible in the valleys near the Idaho border. Higher amounts of 12 to 18 inches are possible in the high terrain.

Slick roads were already impacting travel Monday morning as two accidents were reported in Lincoln County.

One was at mile marker 18 on the Bull Lake Road. An injury was reported with the crash involving a passenger vehicle and a vehicle hauling a trailer. Scanner traffic indicated the truck was hauling pigs.

Another crash was reported on Montana Highway Patrol’s log at mile marker 64 on Highway 37.

Forecasters say the storm could impact Bull Lake Road (Highway 56), Highway 37, Eureka to Libby and U.S. 2, Kalispell to Libby.

For major winter weather impacts, expect considerable disruptions to normal activities with dangerous or impossible traveling conditions. Officials are advising people to avoid travel in the impacted areas if possible. Widespread closures and disruptions to infrastructure may occur. The hazardous conditions could impact the Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning commutes, especially over higher passes.

Lower amounts of 1 to 4 inches are possible along Highway 93.

In the Troy and Libby area, the forecast is calling for a snowy week with higher odds through Thursday. Patchy fog, not surprisingly, is also predominant in the week’s forecast.

The Yaak could see higher amounts of snow, but generally, the forecast is the same.

In Idaho’s Panhandle region, the forecast calls for 8 to 15 inches above 3,000 feet elevation and 1 to 5 below.

Affected areas include the cities of Pinehurst, Osburn, Wallace, Clark Fork, Kellogg, Bonners Ferry, Lookout Pass, Schweitzer Mountain Road, Dobson Pass, St. Maries, Fourth Of July Pass, Athol, Priest River, Fernwood, Sandpoint, Mullan and Eastport.

The storm watch is also in effect for Sanders County locales of Noxon, Trout Creek, Thompson Falls and Plains as well as Mineral County’s Superior and St. Regis.