A WINTER STORM WARNING has been issued for most of central and southern Montana, including the Rocky Mountain Front.
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY has been issued for the Hi-Line and west of the Continental Divide.
A WIND CHILL ADVISORY has been issued for northeast Montana.
If you've been wondering where winter is, it's here. The biggest snow in months and the coldest air in nearly 2 years will hit Montana through the weekend. Waves of low pressures will ride along an arctic boundary producing widespread snow. North wind will increase as temperatures decrease creating dangerously cold wind chills. The first wave of snow will move through Montana on Friday. A few inches will accumulate in the lower elevations, with more than half a foot in the mountains. Temperatures will not be that cold yet, with some 10s in northeast Montana, 20s in the central areas, and 30s farther west. Snow will be heavy and sloppy over the Continental Divide. The arctic front will move into northern Montana later in the day and continue south through the night. Snow will accompany the front through Friday night into Saturday morning. Temperatures will fall into the -0s and 0s. Another round of snow will move through on Saturday. The arctic boundary will shift a little north and east allowing some slightly warmer air to work back into central Montana briefly. As low pressure exits the state Saturday night, it will pull the arctic air south again through most of the state. Temperatures will drop to between 0 and -20 by Sunday morning with wind chills between -20 and -40. Sunday will be extremely cold with widespread snow. Highs will stay below zero for most of the state east of the Divide. Areas of snow will continue into Monday, especially over central and southern areas. The arctic high will move over Montana next week clearing out the snow. Although skies will turn sunny, highs will remain below zero for most of the state most of next week. Lows will range from -10 to -40. Now is the time to prepare for this severe arctic weather event.
Stay warm,
Curtis Grevenitz
Chief Meteorologist
