A WIND CHILL ADVISORY remains in effect for northeast Montana into Tuesday for wind chills as cold as -40. A WINTER STORM WARNING is in effect for northwest Montana. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY is in effect for the Rocky Mountain Front into Tuesday.
Last weekend was brutally cold and very rough with record cold high temperatures occurring Sunday. Great Falls tied its record cold high of -8 that was set all the way back in 1905! Although Montana can be a very cold place in February, this cold is record breaking and unusual. Dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills will continue into Tuesday. However, the next storm that is beginning to spread snow in parts of the state will bring in some warmer temperatures. Some elevations above 5000′ near the Continental Divide, and even some of the lower elevations west of the Divide will warm above the freezing point. This may not be a good thing as icy conditions will develop. The valleys east of the Divide and northcentral Montana will likely stay very cold with highs ranging from -5 to 10 above. Light snow will move through early on Tuesday morning, followed by some partial clearing. Snow will move back in on Wednesday with a few inches accumulating across the state. Thursday is Valentine’s Day, and even though it will be cold, most people will “love” the sunshine. Highs will be in the 10s and 20s above zero. Another storm will move in on Friday into Saturday with snow and temperatures dropping below 0 once again for parts of the state. President’s Day Weekend will be cold with areas of snow, and wind chills will be well below zero once again. Although this harsh winter weather will likely continue through the rest of February, the coldest is likely behind us. Stay hardy Montana.
Curtis Grevenitz
Chief Meteorologist
