BOZEMAN – In the wake of Wednesday strong Pacific storm a NW flow aloft has developed, and this will lock us into a cooler than normal pattern into next week.
High-pressure is locked over the Pacific NW and that is forcing the Polar jet stream to move into Alaska and then drop sharply southward through Alberta down into Montana. This NW flow will likely remain in place through the next 5 to 7 days and at times send several disturbances down into Montana from Canada.
The next weak disturbance will slide down the Rocky mountain front and produce scattered valley rain and higher mountain snow Friday morning into early Saturday morning. For SW Montana areas east of the divide will have a slightly higher probability for a few showers Friday.
Another system will clip far NE Montana Saturday morning. That system should remain well downstream and will not have a big impact on your weekend forecast locally except to keep temperatures on the cooler side.
Mother’s Day should be mostly dry and cool across SW Montana.
Next week looks cool and wet as well especially Tuesday through Thursday. Cooler than normal temperatures will produce valley rain and mountain snow with a few isolated thunderstorms next week.
