Snow Squalls and Arctic Air Moving In

Intense snow showers will continue to accompany an arctic boundary that is sliding into the state. Locally heavy snow has been falling where bands of snow have set up, creating temporary white out conditions. Arctic air is working into Montana but just like last week it will be brief. The arctic front will slide southward through Monday night and Tuesday, with snow showers and snow squalls propagating along the front. Generally a light accumulation of an inch or two will accumulate, but in a few isolated areas there could be as much as 6" under persistent snow bands. Travel will be difficult at times through Tuesday evening. High temperatures on Tuesday will range from below 0 in northeast Montana, to the 10s in the central areas, to the low 30s west of the Continental Divide. Tuesday night will be very cold with most areas dropping into the -0s and 0s, but northeast Montana will drop to between -20 and -30. High pressure will settle over the state on Wednesday with clear skies and chilly temperatures. A chinook wind will develop for north-central Montana on Thursday pushing highs into the 40s to near 50 there, but inversions will keep the valley locations noticeably cooler with less wind. Sunshine and seasonably mild weather will continue into the weekend with Saturday a very pleasant day across most of Montana. The only issue will be stronger wind across the Montana prairies. Sunday a strong cold front will cut across the state with a blast of snow and wind. More widespread snow is possible early next week with below average temperatures.
Have a great day.
Curtis Grevenitz