Snow-packed and icy roads in the mountains around Helena kept Montana Highway Patrol troopers busy Friday night and Saturday, but the area didn't receive significant amounts of snowfall.

Rich Prewitt with the National Weather Service said MacDonald Pass on Highway 12 and Boulder Pass on Interstate 15 got around 2 inches of snow by 2 p.m. Saturday, and Rogers Pass had 4 to 5 inches.

That was enough to cause numerous fender benders and a couple rollovers, MHP Trooper Jeramy Rice said, but luckily no serious-injury accidents.

"We've been very busy," Rice said. "The best thing we can tell people is to just slow down because it's slick out there. They need to watch it on bridge decks, around corners and be careful about overcorrecting."

He noted that on Saturday afternoon, I-15 was closed from Dillon to Lima over Monida Pass. The winter storm that caused the hazardous driving conditions mainly was hovering in that area.

A winter storm warning is in effect through 6 p.m. today for most of southwest and central Montana, with snow accumulations at lower elevations totaling anywhere from 4 to 8 inches, and up to 3 feet in the mountains.

"The east slopes of the Tobacco Root Mountains already have about 36 inches of snow," Prewitt said. "The Highwoods also have received some good snowfall, but we haven't gotten as much in the valleys as we thought we might."

The storm is moving northeast, and clear skies are forecast for Columbus Day on Monday, although cold temperatures are expected to continue through most of next week.

Helena Police Department Sgt. Jerry McGee said the department of officers didn't have any snow-related incidents in the city limits on Saturday.

Reporter Eve Byron: 447-4076 or eve.byron@helenair.com