There has been some snow along the Divide throughout the day today and there have been scattered rain showers and isolated thunderstorms around east of the Divide this afternoon/evening as a cold front is approaching our area. It has also been breezy/gusty and mild today.
Here is the detailed forecast:
Showers are likely this evening and tonight, especially before midnight, as a cold front passes through our area. Some of the precipitation that falls along and behind the cold front may be heavy. In the mountains, the precipitation will be in the form of snow. In the lower elevations, a lot of the precipitation that falls will be in the form of rain, but some snow is possible after the front passes through. It is also going to be mostly cloudy tonight, with the skies clearing out some during the second half of the night.
Tomorrow will be partly to mostly cloudy and there will be scattered snow and graupel showers around, generally during the afternoon and evening, as a storm system continues to impact the state. On Friday, snow and graupel showers are likely in central Montana and western portions of north-central Montana, generally during the afternoon and evening, and there are going to be a few snow and graupel showers around elsewhere. It is also going to be partly to mostly cloudy on Friday.
Snow will pile up at and above mountain pass level through Friday evening. At and above mountain pass level, 3-12+” of snow is expected, with the snow amounts increasing as you go up in elevation. Winter driving conditions (slick roads and reduced visibility) are expected over the mountain passes and in the higher terrain at times the next two days, so use caution when driving and give yourself some extra time to get to where you need to go. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY is in effect for the Glacier area, the Rocky Mountain Front, and the mountains in central Montana through 9am/12pm Thursday.
In the lower elevations, up to 2” or 3” of snow is possible, but most locations will receive little (a coating) to no snow accumulation through Friday evening. Roads in the lower elevations will primarily just be wet, but there will be some slick spots around later tonight and tomorrow morning as temperatures drop below freezing, so use caution when driving.
It is going to be chilly tonight as lows are going to range from the mid teens to the mid 30s. It will also continue to be breezy tonight as sustained wind speeds are going to be between 10 and 25 mph, with the wind initially decreasing, but then increasing from west to east behind the front.
Tomorrow will be a lot colder than today was as highs are only going to be in the 30s and low 40s. It is also going to be blustery tomorrow as sustained wind speeds are going to be between 10 and 25 mph, and wind gusts over 40 mph are possible. The strongest wind tomorrow will be along the Hi-Line and in locations east of I-15. This wind will make it feel like it is in the teens and 20s for most of the day. A LAKE WIND ADVISORY is in effect from 9am until 9pm tomorrow for Fort Peck Lake.
Friday will be chilly, but slightly warmer as highs are going to be in the upper 30s and low to mid 40s. It is also going to be breezy again on Friday as sustained wind speeds are going to be between 10 and 20 mph.
Beautiful weather is expected this weekend and early next week (Monday and Tuesday) as an upper-level ridge is going to be in complete control of our weather. The temperatures will warm up a lot over these four days as highs are going to be in the mid to upper 50s and low 60s on Saturday; the mid to upper 60s and low 70s on Sunday; the 70s on Monday; and the 70s and low 80s on Tuesday. It is also going to be partly to mostly sunny and dry on these four days. There is also going to be a bit of a breeze around in some areas on these four days as sustained wind speeds are going to be between 10 and 20 mph.
Scattered rain and mountain snow showers return next Wednesday as another storm system begins to impact the state. It is also going to be breezy and cooler on Wednesday as sustained wind speeds are going to be between 10 and 25 mph and highs are going to be back in the 60s and mid to upper 50s.
