Winter refuses to loosen its grip on western Montana. The National Weather Service in Missoula reports a series of snowy weather systems will shift into the region this weekend.
Meteorologist Ryan Leach says only a few scattered snow showers are forecast for late Friday through Saturday. That’s expected to dramatically change starting Sunday.
"By the time we get through Monday evening, I think Lolo Pass and Lost Trail Pass and places like that are going to be measuring the snow in feet – two to three of snow," Leach says. "Very likely we’ll get six inches here in the Missoula valley and the Bitterroot valley, over a several day period. And maybe as much as 10 inches in some places in the southern Bitterroot."
Temperatures in northwest Montana will only be in the teens early next week. Highs Monday may not break above zero in Great Falls. West-central Montana can expect temperatures only in the 20s next week.
Confidence in the long-term forecast goes downhill after Monday, but the Weather Service says some models suggest more snow is possible into mid-week, especially in northwest Montana.
