A blanket of snow covered the Queen City Sunday, but likely only for a day.

There’s no snow forecasted by the National Weather Service for the Columbus Day holiday, and with increasing temperatures, much of the snow in town will melt away rather quickly.

Rich Prewitt, hydrometeorological technician, said fog is likely Monday morning, but the sun will make its way out, bringing temperatures into the high 40s.

Prewitt said Helena only accumulated about an inch of snow — though it snowed softly most of the day, the snowfall melted about as fast as it came down. Boulder, however, recorded 3 inches, and close to 6 inches of snow were reported in the higher elevations, he said.

The Montana Highway Patrol responded to 24 accidents Saturday night through Sunday at 5 p.m.

Officials responded to a multiple-car accident on Interstate 15 near mile marker 192 at about 6:30 p.m. Sunday. An 8-year-old child riding in a Geo Prism was air lifted to Benefis Hospital in Great Falls for a head injury, Helena Police Department Sgt. Peter Callahan said. A sibling in the same vehicle was transported to St. Peter's Hospital, but as of 10:30 p.m. was in stable condition, he said, adding that another man in one of the eight vehicles at the scene had back and neck injuries.

“There was probably a couple more cars involved that left the scene,” Callahan said.

The wet snow freezing after the sun went down made roads slick, which was the precursor for crash, and Callahan speed was also an issue as the cars were traveling speeds between 65 and 70 mph. The bridge going over Boulder Avenue on I-15 was covered in black ice and when one car lost control it started a chain reaction, he said. The northbound lanes were closed for two hours.

Officials with the HPD, MHP, Lewis and Clark Sheriff’s Department and St. Peter's Hospital responded to the crash with assistance from the Montana Department of Transportation. MHP is investigated the wreck.

There was a handful of accidents in Helena’s city limits, according to McGee. Only one of the crashes was weather-related, he said, adding that the first snow is always a good time to be reminded about driving safely in bad weather.

“I would encourage everyone to slow down and leave early for appointments,” he said. “Allow more time to get to your destination so you don’t pick up the pace.”

“It’s the first snow of the year, and people need to start driving like its wintertime,” Trooper Conner Smith with the MHP said.

Mild temperatures are expected to continue for most of the week — in the mid-50s on Wednesday and reaching the 60s by Friday, according to the weather service.

Reporter Alana Listoe: 447-4081 or alana.listoe@helenair.com.