BOZEMAN – This week’s weather pattern is looking more wintry. First a weak disturbance and upper-level trough is sitting over Montana Monday afternoon producing mostly mountain snow showers and colder temperatures.
Lolo Pass in far western Montana has the best chance for additional snow accumulations overnight into Tuesday morning.
THE NEXT WEATHER MAKER
The next round of snow, wind, and cold will begin to develop Wednesday afternoon. A deep trough will develop over the entire western US with a slow-moving pacific storm dropping into Northern California Wednesday morning and drift into the central Rockies by Thursday.
This will bring wrap around moisture bands into Montana. 2 areas of concern for the biggest impacts of snow and wind will be along the Rocky mountain front and adjacent plains. Helena-Lewistown-Havre westward.
This region could see snow accumulations along with stiff surface winds producing low visibility and icy roads.
The second area of concern is along the MT/ID state line, Lima to West Yellowstone to Island Park, ID. Snow banding and gusty surface winds will bring areas of snow and blowing snow Wednesday into Thursday and possibly through Friday morning.
I-15 Monida pass both on the Montana side and Idaho side will be hit by this storm with snow and blowing snow and icy road conditions Wednesday through Friday.
SW MONTANA TRAVEL CONCERNS
Scattered snow and gusty winds will develop over most of SW Montana Wednesday afternoon through Saturday morning.
Snow accumulations should be on the lighter side for most lower valleys, but the combination of scattered and gusty surface winds will produce challenging driving conditions Wednesday into Thursday. Snow will be off-and-on with the strongest surface winds Wednesday into Thursday.
Colder air will be digging into Montana Thursday through the weekend. Temperatures could fall slightly below zero by the weekend.
Wind chills will be very cold and well below zero Friday morning.
