A HIGH WIND WATCH has been issued for the East Glacier area for Tuesday into Wednesday morning.
A WINTER STORM WATCH has been issued for central and southwest Montana above 4000' for Wednesday into Friday.
Just like last year, winter finally shows up in February. The first week of the shortest month will turn stormy and snowy after a quiet start. Tuesday will be mostly sunny to partly cloudy with highs in the 20s and 30s. Wind will be fairly strong up to 60mph along the Rocky Mountain Front, but fortunately this will not be as strong and the weekend wind. Wednesday the next storm will move into Montana with snow and wind in the mountains, and some snow along and west of the Continental Divide in the lower elevations. A plume of Pacific moisture will spell days of snow for western and central Montana. With the Pacific moisture comes modified air from the Pacific. Temperatures in the lower elevations will warm above freezing during the day which could allow for a wet snow possibly mixing with rain at times for places like Helena, Great Falls and Missoula. Snow will continue for much of Montana through Thursday into Friday. Several inches of wet, snow-ball making snow will accumulate in the lower elevations. The mountains could be measuring accumulation in feet by Friday afternoon. Mountain passes will certainly be sloppy with extra travel time required. After a little break on Friday evening into Saturday, a powerful front will cross later in the day with wind and snow. Sunday will have more sunshine and quieter albeit colder weather. Winter could turn arctic late next week with more snow and subzero temperatures looking likely. Overall, the next several weeks look to be the heart of this year's winter for Big Sky Country.
Have a great day.
Curtis Grevenitz
