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Arctic air is here at least through the week

Posted at 4:33 PM, Feb 09, 2021
and last updated 2021-02-09 20:12:18-05

High pressure will continue to build in from the north allowing a bitterly cold airmass to move into the region. And that's the big weather story moving ahead!



Skies will remain mostly cloudy with random flurries at times. Highs will struggle to make it above 0° the next few days for most of the viewing area... this will likely make it into the 'top 10' for longest stretches below 0° in recorded history for Great Falls.

Overnight lows? Well, it's best you know that it'll just be downright frigid, but here are the specifics for Great Falls and Helena respectively:

  • Wednesday AM: -28° / -11°
  • Thursday AM: -28° / -22°
  • Friday AM: -32° / -26°
  • Saturday AM: -25° / -18°

It's likely we'll see records tied or broken for a few locations the next several nights.

Pushing Record Lows

With that said, any breath of wind (and thank goodness there isn't looking like much) will create dangerously low wind chill values moving ahead.

A Wind Chill Warning is in place for the northern Rocky Mountain Front, Eastern Glacier, Hill, Toole, Liberty & Blaine Counties until noon Friday for wind chills as low as -55°.

For Cascade, Chouteau, Eastern Pondera, the southern Rocky Mountain Front, Eastern Teton, Judith Basin & Fergus Counties, the current Wind Chill Advisory (wind chills down to -40°) will expire at 6pm Wednesday and a Wind Chill Warning will take over from then until noon Friday. Wind chills as low as -55° are possible.

Warnings are also out for Central and Southeast Phillips, Central and Southern Valley, Daniels, Sheridan, Western Roosevelt, Northern Phillips, Northern Valley & Eastern Roosevelt Counties until 11am Friday for wind chills as low as -50°.

For Petroleum, Garfield, McCone, Richland, Dawson, Prairie, Wibaux & Southwest Phillips Counties, a Wind Chill Advisory (wind chills down to -40°) is in place until 6pm Thursday then a Wind Chill Warning takes over from then until 11am Friday for wind chills down to -45°.

Wind chills could cause frostbite to exposed skin within minutes.

Wind Chill Advisory

I wouldn't be surprised if they're extended & possibly expanded, although they're rightfully in place for many areas already.

Make sure to protect yourself from the cold & always travel with an emergency kit. Additionally, don’t forget about the pets and make sure that they have adequate access to shelter if they are outside!

Thursday and Friday will feature a few snow showers as weak disturbances move through.

Great Falls Temp Trend

Those looking for warmer temperatures have to wait until AT LEAST the end of this week. Right now, highs *could make it in the single digits above zero by Saturday &/or Sunday, but this cold air looks to have some serious staying power!