BUTTE – Unseasonably cold weather pattern is trapped over Montana and most of the Rocky mountain states for most of this week. A deep trough of Low pressure is parked over the region allowing colder Canadian air to dive southward.
Pacific moisture is also caught up in this deep trough with rotating bands of rain or snow passing through Southern Montana from East to West.
Lower valleys will see mostly scattered rain but could mix with snow at times and above 6,000′ more snow is likely tonight through Thursday. Mountain passes will see periodic snow and possible icing of roadways especially in the early morning hours so please allow for extra travel time for morning commutes.
WINTER STORM WATCH
The National Weather Service has a WINTER STORM WATCH up for the Absaroka-Beartooth ranges Tuesday morning through Wednesday evening.
Snow accumulations of over a foot are possible along with strong gusty winds up to or over 40 mph.
City by City Forecast:
BOZEMAN: LOW: 35°; HIGH TUESDAY: 49°. Cold tonight. Mostly cloudy with a few rain or snow showers and Easterly winds 10 to 20 mph. Tuesday look for more of the same scattered rain or snow with East to NE winds 10 to 20 mph. Snow levels lower to 6,000′ with minor accumulations possible.
BUTTE: LOW: 33°; HIGH TUESDAY: 48°. Cold again tonight with lows falling down around freezing. Mostly cloudy this evening with a few rain or snow showers and gusty Easterly winds. Mostly cloudy again Tuesday and continue cold with areas of rain or snow.
DILLON: LOW: 34°; HIGH TUESDAY: 52°. Mostly cloudy and cold for Dillon. Scattered rain is possible with mountain snow. Snow accumulations are likely for nearby mountain passes over Monida pass and Big Hole pass. More of the same Tuesday. Gusty Easterly winds 10 to 20 mph.
WEST YELLOWSTONE: LOW: 25°; HIGH TUESDAY: 51°. Cold overnight with lows falling below freezing by Tuesday morning. Scattered snow is likely overnight and mostly snow Tuesday but could mix with rain by afternoon. Gusty Easterly winds will also continue tonight into Tuesday 10 to 20 mph.
