Less than a week away from Thanksgiving and it's sunny and mild, but BIG changes will happen on or just before the holiday impacting travel. Significantly colder temperatures along with periods of light snow are likely, and some of that will coincide with some of the biggest travel days of the year. Warm-ish and windy conditions will start into the weekend. Saturday will be mostly sunny with highs in the 40s and 50s, and the wind will be strong across the plains. If you're heading to Missoula for Cats-Griz, the wind will be light, skies should be fairly sunny and temperatures will be closer to 40. The next storm will move into the state on Sunday with a mix of rain and snow showers in the lower elevations and snow in the mountains. Highs will be in the 40s and 50s. And then we're already into Thanksgiving week. Monday and Tuesday will be partly to mostly sunny as high pressure works across the state. A cold front will slowly work south into Montana from Tuesday into Thanksgiving. Highs will be in the 40s and 50s on Monday and Tuesday. A stronger push of colder air with snow is likely later Wednesday into Thanksgiving day. Snow could accumulate a few inches but most of the snow will be light. Arctic high pressure will move in after Thanksgiving for a very cold but sunny and dry holiday weekend. Travel at the end of the holiday looks smoother than before.
Have a great weekend.
Curtis Grevenitz
Chief Meteorologist
