National Weather Service Missoula

Montana weather forecasters are increasingly confident this winter could be cooler and wetter than recent years.

Missoulians woke up Thursday morning to pick up the pieces left by a powerful storm that slammed the region overnight.

Power to thousands of homes was knocked out Wednesday night as a severe thunderstorm swept through western Montana.

Montana’s first taste of spring weather will soon end. In some cases, it is already being replaced with chilly, damp conditions.

Extreme heat and critical fire conditions are forecast through Thursday. Meteorologists say records could be shattered this week.

Moderate to heavy rain showers could potentially lead to excessive runoff and flash flooding later this week in parts of western Montana.

A series of slow moving and intense thunderstorms produced torrential rainfall and small hail in parts of central and southwest Montana Wednesday afternoon.

The National Weather Service in Missoula has issued a flood warning for the Clark Fork River in the Missoula area from late Tuesday until further notice.

A big change in the weather is expected throughout the northern Rockies starting this weekend and lasting through next week.

More snow — and dicey driving conditions — are on the way to western and central Montana Wednesday