BOZEMAN – A cool and wet weather pattern will continue to play out over the region through Saturday morning.
A deep trough of Low-pressure is sitting over the Pacific NW and a blocking High-pressure ridge is parked over the northern high-plains.
The jet stream is slicing Montana in half with cooler air over the western half of the state and much warmer air over the eastern half. Overall, the cooler air will dig deeper into Montana beginning Thursday.
Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible again today in Montana but the focus has shifted into far eastern counties and especially down in the SE corner of the state. Damaging hail, damaging wind gusts and a few isolated tornadoes are possible.
Upper level Low will continue to produce scattered showers, isolated thunderstorms and higher mountain snow for SW Montana in the short-term forecast. Watch for a good push of moisture to roll into the region Wednesday night into Thursday morning and another wave by early Friday morning. Valleys will see a good chance for moderate rainfall at times through Saturday morning.
Mountain snow is likely across SW Montana over the next 3 days. Snow levels will stay above 7,500’ tonight but could drop down to 6,000’ by Friday morning. Big Sky, West Yellowstone, Wisdom, and Cooke City could see 1”-8” of heavy wet snow by Friday evening.
Memorial Day Weekend will start off cold and wet on Saturday but slowly improve with near normal temperatures and dryer conditions by Sunday and Monday.
