Not this cold but changes are coming to Montana

Incredible cold in Alaska as temperatures have dropped into the -60s for the first time since 2012. While this cold does NOT have a direct pipeline to Montana, there will be stormier changes heading into the New Year. This weekend is the final weekend of the year and the decade, and the weather will be very quiet. Besides a few flurries near and west of the Continental Divide, partly cloudy skies and chilly temperatures will prevail. If anyone is traveling near Missoula or Kalispell on Sunday the roads may be a little slippery with light snow in that direction. The rest of Montana will have to wait until the final day of 2019 for a larger storm. This system will spread a lot of wind across the state on New Year's Eve, with a few mixed rain and snow showers east of the Divide late in the day. A cold front will sweep across the state early on New Year's Day with wind and a period of snow. Most of the accumulation will be confined to the mountains, but a light coating up to an inch or two is possible in the lower elevations east of the Divide. The wind will really be the main factor for the first storm of the new year. Beyond that, a colder and snowier pattern will develop through at least the middle of January. After a quiet and dry period for much of December, winter is back across Montana.
Have a great weekend.
Curtis Grevenitz