Friday Flakes but a Warm Weekend

Wow, what a beautiful late January day! Temperatures were above average with a nice sun, something that is not typical for this time of year. Things will be changing for Friday with some snow moving in. A weak area of low pressure will move into the state in the morning with areas of snow (may mix with rain) increasing through southern and southwest Montana. Areas of light snow will spread north and east through the afternoon and evening, coming close to the Hi-Line late in the day. Travel will not be severely impacted, although roads in the higher terrain will be slippery. Highs will be in the 30s to around 40. By night 1-3" will accumulate mainly in the higher elevations. Some snow will continue Friday night into Saturday morning. Any morning snow and clouds will clear by afternoon. Highs will climb into the 40s. Sunday will be mostly sunny as well with highs in the 40s to near 50. Mild conditions will carry over into Monday with much of the state hitting the 50s on the first day of February. After that, snow should return to much of Montana on Groundhog Day. A Canadian cold front will drop into the state with snow and colder air that will last into Wednesday. The first few weeks of February will have some harsh winter conditions with arctic air and several shots of snow. It has not been much of a winter yet, but that's about to change.
Have a great day.
Curtis Grevenitz
Chief Meteorologist