Here’s a map of potential snowfall through the weekend into Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday. It’s a holiday weekend for most people, a big ski weekend, and travel will be impacted by snow and fluctuating temperatures.
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY has been issued for areas along and west of the Continental Divide from Thursday into Friday morning. Snow will develop Thursday morning in western Montana and spread northeast through the afternoon and evening. Accumulations will be 1-3″ in the valleys and plains by Friday morning, with up to 6″ in the mountains. Highs on Thursday will be in the 10s and 20s, so the snow will be light and fluffy. Friday, snow will become scattered through the state with some sun poking through the clouds in the afternoon. Warmer air will try moving in from the west with highs in the 30s for western Montana, 20s in central areas and 10s in eastern Montana. Saturday will also be a mild, windy day for a lot of western and central Montana. Some snow will fall in the mountains, but a few mixed rain/snow showers are likely in the lower elevations. Highs will be in the 30s and 40s, with the exception of northeast Montana and the higher mountains holding in the 20s. West wind will gust up over 40mph off of the Rocky Mountain Front. Sunday, another area of low pressure will spread snow back across the state with colder temperatures as well. Right now, snow could be heavy for central and southern Montana from Sunday night into Monday. Another snow event is likely for much of the state next Wednesday.
With a series of storms moving in over the next week, stay tuned to KTVH for updates to the forecast. Some changes may be made regarding timing and snow intensity. Regardless, prepare for more typical January weather into next week.
Curtis Grevenitz
