Potential Historic and Record Cold Coming to Montana

Pictured above are forecasted temperatures by Monday evening. Brutal winter weather is about to hit Montana with snow and record cold, rivaling last winter's historic stretch. There still are a few days until the dangerous cold arrives here in Big Sky Country. Thursday will be a little taste of what's to come as modified arctic air pushes into northern Montana where highs will be in the 0s and 10s. Central and southern Montana will have highs in the 20s and 30s. Light snow will push over the Continental Divide out through central Montana accumulating up to 1-3". At the very least, a light coating is expected to stick on the roads. Fortunately this snow and cold will not come with wind just yet. Areas of light snow will continue Thursday night. Friday will be a mostly cloudy day with increasing wind across the plains. Southwest wind up to 40-50mph will create blowing snow and areas of difficult travel because of reduced visibility. HIghs will be in the 20s and 30s. Saturday will be a final quiet day with mostly cloudy skies, some scattered areas of light snow, and highs in the 20s and 30s. The arctic air will begin pushing into northern Montana on Saturday night and move south through the state on Sunday. By Sunday afternoon, light snow should be falling across most of Montana with temperatures falling below zero across the north. Wind chill values will be dangerously cold between -10 and -30. Monday will be a biting winter day with moderate snow accumulating several inches, with highs staying below zero for most of the area. Highs will range from 0 to -20 on Monday and Tuesday, with lows between -10 and -40. The coldest night may be Tuesday night as the clouds clear out and arctic high pressure settles overhead. The extreme cold will last for the entire week, with more snow likely by Thursday and Friday.
Use this time now to prepare for the upcoming severe weather.
Curtis Grevenitz