Montana Weather: From Sunny 70s to Snowy Conditions by Thursday

Montana’s temperatures soared to the 60s and 70s today but will sharply drop due to a cold front bringing rain and snow by Thursday. Winter weather advisories are in effect, with accumulations of 1-3 inches in lower elevations and up to 20 inches in mountains. Winds may gust up to 40 mph with a forecast for colder conditions before a warming trend resumes this weekend.

Montana experienced a notable temperature increase today, with highs reaching the 60s and 70s, gaining 8 to 21 degrees compared to the previous day. Clear to partly cloudy skies accompanied this warm spell, though wind gusts ranged from 5 to 15 mph, and up to 30 mph east of the divide.

High pressure has provided pleasant spring weather; however, an imminent cold front is expected to change this pleasant weather by bringing showers and potential thunderstorms to the state. Colder air from the front will lead to a transition from rain to snow, accompanied by winter weather advisories in many mountainous regions.

Populated areas, including Butte, Georgetown Lake, and Seeley Lake, will likely see snowfall accumulations of 1 to 3 inches. Meanwhile, a winter storm watch is in place for southwest and central Montana, indicating potential snowfall between 4 to 20 inches in areas such as Bozeman Pass, Big Sky, and West Yellowstone.

A wind advisory will also be in effect on Wednesday afternoon and evening for areas including Missoula, Bitterroot, and Flathead Valleys, with gusts reaching up to 40 mph. Colder temperatures are anticipated on Thursday, with nighttime lows in the 30s to lower 40s, and daytime highs dropping to the 30s and 40s in north central and central Montana. Fortunately, temperatures are projected to recover to the 50s and 60s over the weekend.

Montana is set to experience a significant weather shift, transitioning from unusually warm spring temperatures to colder conditions, including potential snowfall. While today’s highs reached the 60s and 70s, a strong cold front will bring rain, subsequently turning to snow, particularly in mountainous areas. The weather will stabilize by the weekend as temperatures increase again.

Original Source: www.montanarightnow.com