Winter’s last hurrah to bring bitter cold, snow

Winter isn’t done with Montana just yet. After a stretch of near-record warmth and scant snow, Western Montana will be flirting with record lows as an arctic front barges across the Continental Divide this weekend.

The Flathead Valley will struggle to reach 20 on Saturday, with lows possibly dipping below zero in some locations.

“Temperatures drop off pretty dramatically [this weekend],” said meteorologist Trent Smith with the National Weather Service in Missoula.

The weather change begins today with a good chance of snow in the valley. Lows tonight will drop into the teens.

Bitterly cold air and more snow infiltrates the region following a short respite on Thursday.

Kalispell could see up to 3 inches of new snow between Friday and Saturday as the front passes. Libby will see slightly more, while higher terrain such as Marias Pass could see up to 12 inches of new snow.

While the minor snow accumulations will be more of a nuisance, a major impact will be felt as the cold front hits. Temperatures over the weekend will be 20 to 30 degrees below normal, and record lows across Northwest Montana are possible, the Weather Service warned.

Winds will pick up during this time, as well.

“It is going to be a cold easterly wind,” Smith said, noting that some prime areas might see damaging winds.

Low wind chills along the Divide could present a danger to newborn livestock, the Weather Service warned.

Smith also cautioned commuters of flash freezing potential as the cold air quickly descends upon the area.

Questions remain about the intensity of the cold air and how far south and west it will progress, but Smith said the coldest zone will likely stretch from Kalispell south to at least Butte.

The cold air gradually moderates early next week, but it will still be unseasonably cold for this time of year, with a chance for snow showers lingering.