BUTTE – The weather pattern will be changing this weekend! The extremely cold temperatures Friday morning will not continue this weekend, however, a Canadian cold front will drop through the state Saturday producing scattered snow and wind. Following that storm will be a long fetch of moisture overrunning the colder air over Montana.
A prolonged period of snow is possible for the Pacific NW, Idaho, Montana, and Yellowstone National Park Saturday afternoon through Tuesday of next week.
Warm moist air colliding with colder shallow Arctic air is a prime recipe for moderate to heavy snow. This will likely impact travel beginning Sunday and will have a significant impact on your morning commute Monday.
The National Weather Service will likely issue a variety of Watches, Warnings and Advisories soon.
Be prepared for moderate snow accumulations for most valleys in SW Montana and heavy snow over most mountain passes Sunday through Tuesday.
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RECORD COLD FRIDAY MORNING:
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City by City Forecast:
BOZEMAN: LOW: 4°; HIGH SATURDAY: 23°. Not as cold tonight for Bozeman as clouds move back in overhead and hopefully staying above zero. Saturday look for increasing snow and wind by afternoon. Areas of blowing snow are possible and snow accumulations should be on the lighter side for Bozeman.
BUTTE: LOW: 2°; HIGH SATURDAY: 23°. Increasing clouds tonight will hold our temperatures slightly above zero. A cold front will produce scattered snow and wind by Saturday afternoon and there could be some localized areas of blowing snow.
DILLON: LOW: 1°; HIGH SATURDAY: 23°. Clouds should be returning over Dillon this evening and hopefully keeping lows above zero by Saturday morning. Look for scattered snow and increasing surface winds by Saturday afternoon producing areas of blowing snow.
WEST YELLOWSTONE: LOW: -9°; HIGH SATURDAY: 19°. Not as cold tonight for West Yellowstone but still likely to fall below zero. Increasing clouds will develop overnight. Saturday look for increasing snow by afternoon and increasing surface winds which could produce areas of blowing snow.