MISSOULA — Expect mostly cloudy skies Wednesday with highs in the middle 30s. A few light snow showers will also be possible Thursday afternoon across western Montana with very little to no snow accumulation expected.
Although uncertainties for the end of the week and weekend are still present, certain details are coming together.
Thursday night through Saturday and even lingering into Sunday, several storm systems will bring the chance for snow and accumulating snow in valley locations.
The first system will move through Thursday night - Friday morning. Snow accumulations will be possible for all elevations, but especially for those in west-central and southwest Montana with a few inches possible.
The second system will move in Friday night through Saturday morning. This system looks to bring another few inches of snow, again especially to west-central and southwest Montana valleys. Northwest Montana will still see snow showers, although snow does not look to be as widespread.
Scattered off and on snow showers look to stay present through the weekend with the majority of that coming on Saturday.
Now let's talk temperatures. Highs will be in the mid to upper 30s Wednesday through Friday.
By the weekend, and as we have been talking about all week, how cold western Montana gets will greatly rely on how far west the across the divide the arctic front can travel.
Models have been back and forth all week, but they are starting to come into better agreement.
The cold air will move into northwest Montana, as far east as the Flathead Valley Friday night. It will then travel south through the day Saturday, although it will moderate and warm slightly as it travels south and west.
To get a better idea on temperatures below is the weekend forecast for Missoula, Kalispell and Hamilton
Kalispell: Saturday- 29°. Sunday- 24°
Missoula: Saturday- 33°. Sunday- 32°
Hamilton: Saturday- 35°. Sunday- 36°
Cold air looks to remain in the forecast moving into next week with highs topping out in the 20s to low 30s Monday and Tuesday.
