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 until 2pm Saturday. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY has been issued for central and northern Montana into Saturday afternoon.
While Thursday morning most of the state woke up to temperatures between -20 and -40, even colder air hit northeast Montana on Friday morning. Lows bottomed out at -50, with wind chills as cold as -70. The wind chill will be the most dangerous aspect of this weekend’s weather. 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
