A WIND CHILL ADVISORY remains in effect for much of Montana from now through Sunday afternoon. A WIND CHILL WARNING is in effect for northeast Montana into Friday morning. A WINTER STORM WARNING has been issued for the Rocky Mountain Front from 5am Friday until 11pm Saturday. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY has been issued for central and northern Montana for Friday and Saturday.
Thursday morning’s temperatures were incredibly cold. Much of the state was between -20 and -40 degrees. Records were broken at Havre, Dunkirk and Lewistown. The coldest wind chill temperature occurred north of Havre at Mudd Lake, where it felt like -62. This is incredibly cold and almost equally as frigid as the northern Plains last week under the “polar vortex”. Friday, a Canadian front will move into the state with clouds and light snow developing across western and central Montana. Light snow will spread south through the state in the afternoon and evening. Another surge of frigid air will move through with the cold front late Friday. Saturday will be a brutally cold day, and dangerous to be outside. If you don’t have to travel, please avoid doing so. Here’s why: snow will fall through much of the day, highs will likely be between 0 and -15, and wind chill factors will range from -20 to -50. Frostbite is possible in only a few minutes in these conditions. Blowing snow will make for reduced visibility and hazardous travel conditions. Sunday will not be as extreme, but the arctic airmass will linger over the state. Skies will be mostly cloudy, and another round of snow will move in late Sunday afternoon. Light snow will continue into Monday morning with an additional 1-3″ likely. This weather pattern will continue through next week and Presidents’ Day Weekend.
Please be careful in these harsh conditions.
Curtis Grevenitz
Chief Meteorologist
