A WIND CHILL WARNING continues into the weekend for northern Montana for wind chill values down to -60.
A WIND CHILL ADVISORY continues into the weekend for much of southern Montana for wind chill values down to -40.
The coldest air of the winter and the coldest air in two years will continue into the weekend, but warmer changes are on their way. Morning lows will likely be between -20 and -45 for much of the state, with highs reaching the -0s and 0s. Besides a few flurries in southwest Montana and up the Continental Divide, it will be a drier weekend. While wind is not going to be strong, any wind with such cold temperatures can create dangerous wind chill values. Subzero wind chills are likely through Sunday.
Presidents' Day Monday will start to show some warmer changes. Highs will climb into the 10s to around 20 for much of Montana. Skies will be mostly cloudy and there will be a few areas of light snow. The wind will start to increase across the plains, possibly creating areas of blowing snow. However, the warmer air is starting to move in at this point.
Tuesday will be partly cloudy with scattered snow showers. Highs will reach the 10s, 20s and even a few low 30s. Scattered snow showers will continue on Wednesday, and highs will reach the 20s and 30s. Some areas will rise above the freezing point. Imagine that. Thursday will have mountain snow showers with highs in the 20s and 30s, a bit closer to average temperatures. And Friday's highs could top 40 degrees in some areas.
Warmer air is on the way.
Have a great weekend.
Curtis Grevenitz
Chief Meteorologist
