Here Comes Worst Week of Montana Winter Weather

If you've been complaining about the lack of "real" Montana winter weather this winter, the next few days should satiate your love of snow and cold.

As predicted for the past couple of weeks, the Treasure State is headed for some good old-fashioned, rip roarin' weather this week, thanks to a combination of cold Arctic air pushing into the state via Canada, and a massive shot of moisture from the Pacific.

While snow totals are always difficult to forecast precisely because of the timing of those two factors, indicators are all backing up Winter Storm Warnings in Western Montana, with bitter cold in the east.

Get our free mobile app

No more warmup

Friday's first arrival of precipitation caused major problems with icing up. For the next few days, we're taking a hard turn right back into winter, with snow levels already falling into the valleys.

Snow will be widespread through mid-day Monday, but the combination of the "atmospheric river" from the west, and Arctic air from east of the Divide will create very robust storm conditions starting later in the afternoon.

NWS graphic

Winter Storm Warning for Western Montana means severe conditions

National Weather Service forecasters issued a Winter Storm Warning in effect from Monday evening into Tuesday morning for possible heavy snow, gusty winds, and cold, outflow winds. Snow will pick up through the afternoon with gusting winds that could push windchills to just below zero Monday night into Tuesday morning.

Accumulating snow may hit 2 to 4 inches by Tuesday morning, with another 1 to 3 inches on Tuesday. Most of the snow seems to fall south of the I-90 corridor, in the Missoula and Bitterroot Valleys with lighter snow in Northwest Montana.

Snow will taper off around mid-day Tuesday, but then another shot of winter weather blows through Tuesday night into Wednesday. Highs will settle into the teens during this cold push, with overnight lows in the since digits.

Extreme cold east of the Divide

NWS in Great Falls has issued an "Extreme Cold Warning" for the area north of HiLine and along the border. Temperatures could be colder than 20 below on Tuesday night, with wind chills of -35.

And it doesn't end there

The forecast has a threat of snow showers with the chance of snow continuing all week. It will warm gradually though, with temperatures back into the upper 20s by the end of the week with overnight lows in the upper teens.