A HIGH WIND WARNING is in effect for the Rocky Mountain Front.
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY is in effect for the Rocky Mountain Front and parts of central Montana.
An AIR STAGNATION ADVISORY has been issued for areas west of the Continental Divide.
What an incredible storm and cold over the weekend. It was truly historic as countless records were broken. In the wake of that system, there still are several issues that Montana will deal with over the next several days. Strong winds have developed across the Montana plains that is blowing snow around. Reduced visibility and difficult travel is possible. Some wind off the Rocky Mountain Front could gust higher than 60mph. West of the Continental Divide, the lack of wind will create stagnant conditions and deteriorating air quality. Inversions developing in the western valleys will trap cold air and pollution. So while the rest of the state will have wind and warming temperatures, the inversions will stick for a few days in the valleys. Tuesday will be partly to mostly cloudy with strong wind over the plains. Highs there will be in the 40s, and the snow will start to melt. The valleys of western Montana will be stuck in the 10s and 20s with air quality slowly going downhill. Wednesday will be very similar with wind and warmer temperatures over the plains, little to no wind and colder in the valleys. Thursday the plains will warm into the 50s as the melting continues. Inversions may hang tough on Thursday in the valleys with one more colder day. A very weak front will push through the state later in the day. A couple of showers and mountain snow showers are possible, but this system could create enough of a pressure change and wind to scour out the inversions. This coming weekend will be very different than the past weekend. Highs will be much warmer in the 50s and 60s. It's Halloween on Saturday and the weather will be great. Saturday night it's time to "fall back" and turns the clocks back one hour as Daylight Saving Time comes to an end. The warmup will continue into early next week as temperatures could top out above 70 degrees. That's quite a swing.
Curtis Grevenitz
Chief Meteorologist
