Western Montana’s extended climate outlook calls for a typically warm summer and maybe more rain than normal.
That from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center which has issued its 90-day outlook.
"Summer looks like it’s going to be probably average or slightly above average for temperatures, and expecting pretty normal precipitation, maybe a little bit extra."
That’s National Weather Service, Missoula Meteorologist Ryan Leach. Leach says the extended outlook paints in broad strokes. It does not offer a detailed look at the region’s extended day-to-day weather forecast.
The Climate Prediction Center says the extended outlook also calls for slightly above-normal precip and equal chances for above, below or normal temperatures this summer in eastern Montana.
A dramatic shift in western Montana’s weather is expected later this week. A strong cold front will push into the region Thursday, bringing with it some potentially powerful thunderstorms.
Temperatures Friday will begin a downward spiral into the upper 50s to low 60s through the weekend.