Unofficial Start of Summer as Record Heat is Possible

Happy Memorial Day! While this holiday weekend was anything but summer-like, it is often called the "unofficial start of summer". The warmest weather since September is headed toward Montana. But before temperatures approach record levels, a minor storm system will move through Monday night and Tuesday. A few rain showers will fall into Tuesday morning. Tuesday will become partly cloudy with isolated showers and a thunderstorm mainly over the mountains. Strong west wind will gust over 30mph in parts of the state. Highs will be in the 70s. Wednesday will be a beautiful spring day for central and northern Montana with mostly sunny skies and comfortable temperatures in the 60s and 70s, but southern areas close to the Wyoming border will have clouds and showers. Thursday will be a fantastic day for the entire state with mostly sunny skies and highs in the 70s. A big ridge of high pressure will grow across Montana and the West making for the potential of record heat. Friday will be mostly sunny with highs in the 70s and 80s, and an isolated thunderstorm is possible in the afternoon and evening. Saturday will be a very warm day with highs in the 80s pretty much across the state. A few locations could hit 90 for the first time since September. Isolated thunderstorms are likely in the afternoon. Sunday will also have a summery sizzle with highs in the 80s and low 90s. A few thunderstorms are likely in the afternoon and evening. With this much warmth on the way, and still a lot of snow in the mountains, snowmelt will be accelerated and the runoff will be cold and fast. Temperatures will gradually cool back closer to average by the middle of next week.
Have a great day.
Curtis Grevenitz