A powerful windstorm will blast through the state tonight and Wednesday. To clarify, 100% of the state will have strong wind through Wednesday. However, snow will mainly be limited to the mountains, as most people will not have to do any shoveling because of this storm.
A BLIZZARD WARNING remains in effect for the Browning-East Glacier region. Avoid traveling in this area tonight and Wednesday as a combination of snow and wind will reduce visibility down to zero at times. A HIGH WIND WARNING is in effect for all of north-central Montana for gusts that could top 60mph. A WINTER STORM WARNING is in effect for the mountains west of the Continental Divide, and a WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY is in effect for areas generally west of the Divide and south of the Bozeman area. Snow and wind will batter the mountains tonight and Wednesday morning. Travel will be extremely difficult and is not recommended through Marias Pass. Other passes including Rogers, MacDonald, Flesher, Rogers, Elk Park and Homestake will have some snow and wind but will not be as treacherous as Marias Pass. Wednesday will be an extremely windy day as most of the state will have wind gusts higher than 40mph, some gusts Wednesday morning will push over 80mph near the Rocky Mountain Front. Highs will be in the 30s and 40s but it will be an uncomfortable day to be outside because of the relentless wind. Thursday will be windy and mostly cloudy, with highs in the 30s and 40s. Friday, more wind under a partly cloudy sky. Highs will be in the 40s and 50s. Late Friday, another cold front will bring snow showers to the mountains into Saturday morning. Saturday will be yet another windy day across the state. Skies will be partly cloudy with highs in the 30s and 40s. Sunday will have a little break from the wind, and temperatures across Montana’s prairies could top 50. A relatively mild, windy pattern will continue next week as well.
Be careful in the wind!
Curtis Grevenitz
