A HIGH WIND WATCH has been issued for the Rocky Mountain Front from Wednesday through Thursday.
Big changes are headed toward Montana and much of the West as near record highs will give way to a significant snowstorm. Tuesday's high temperatures will reach the 60s and 70s across most of Montana. A few new record highs are likely. There will be wind across the plains, but near calm conditions in the valley locations which will have minor inversions. Changes will start on Wednesday with an increase in clouds and a few showers west of the Continental Divide. Wind will howl across most of the state. Highs will be in the 50s and 60s. Thursday will be partly to mostly cloudy with rain showers west of the Divide. A few showers will spill over the Divide into central Montana late in the day. Friday, a strong cold front will move south through the state changing rain over to snow. The snow will be heavy at times and the wind will reduce visibility. Temperatures will fall from the 30s and 40s early into the 10s and 20s late in the day. Travel conditions will really get sloppy as the snow piles up. The storm will impact the weekend across most of the state. Saturday will be a snowy, cold day. Highs will generally stay in the 10s, and with gusty north wind, wind chills will drop below zero. The storm will hit eastern Montana really hard on Sunday with strong wind creating possible blizzard conditions at times. Western Montana will have some clearing through the day, but will remain cold. Significant snow accumulations are likely, with many areas once again picking up between 6-12". Some higher amounts could approach 18". Stay tuned as we are still several days away from this impending storm.
Curtis Grevenitz
Chief Meteorologist
