BOZEMAN - There's potential for a significant winter storm starting as early as tomorrow. Confidence is high that Northwest Montana will see significant snowfall (1 to 3 feet of snow are possible). We'll likely see less of an impact here in SW Montana but any snow that does fall will result in travel hazards, especially on pass roads.
Thursday - Tomorrow morning will remain dry. All of SW Montana will see strong winds prior to the front arriving by late afternoon, which is why parts of the area are under a High Wind Watch. The cold front will arrive by late afternoon and bring the first round rain with it. Tomorrow's precipitation will stay in the form of rain for everyone.
Friday - Highs will struggle to get out of the 50s in the valley regions which will result in a change over to snow in the mountains and West Yellowstone. However, precipitation will be spotty and any accumulations will remain light.
Saturday - As the cold air deepens, we could see a transition from rain to snow for lower elevations (including Butte, Bozeman, and Dillon). More widespread precipitation is expected Saturday night into Sunday morning, particularly west of the divide.
Sunday - Snow is possible for all areas in the morning. Depending on how much precipitation falls overnight, we might see travel hazards in the form of ice and snow on the roadways. Spotty snow is possible through Sunday afternoon. Highs are likely to remain in the 30s for everyone. Please check road conditions if your travel plans take you over pass roads like Bozeman or Homestake Pass.
Next Week - Our weather pattern will remain active and cold through Tuesday. On and off snow is likely with little accumulation expected.
The best chance of seeing accumulating snow (3"-6" with locally higher amounts) is west of divide in places like Butte, Anaconda, and Deer Lodge. However, travel hazard are expected for the entire area through early next week. The worst of storm is expected to stay north of the area, so please check road conditions before attempting to travel to Northwest Montana this weekend. Stay tuned to the STORMTracker weather team for the latest updates.
