Forecast Brings 80s and low 90s by Monday — Local Weather
Local weather turns warmer from Friday through Monday, with partly to mostly sunny skies and mostly dry conditions expected after today’s scattered rain and mountain snow showers. Highs are set to climb from the mid to upper 60s and low 70s on Friday to the 80s and low 90s by Monday.
The warmup follows a stretch of unsettled weather tied to a disturbance over the state. Today brought scattered rain and mountain snow showers plus a few thunderstorms, and around Helena, rain and mountain snow showers were likely this evening and tonight.
Helena Tonight
Snow levels around Helena were expected to drop to about 5000 feet, and some lower elevation locations may see a little wet snow this evening and tonight. In north-central Montana, scattered rain and mountain snow showers were expected this evening and tonight, especially in the western and southern parts of the region, with isolated thunderstorms also possible.
Lows tonight were expected to be in the 30s and low 40s. Tomorrow stays cool, with partly cloudy skies, highs in the mid to upper 50s and low to mid 60s, and sustained wind speeds between 5 and 20 mph.
Thursday Mountain Snow
Snow remains the bigger issue in the mountains through tomorrow evening. Some areas in central Montana may receive over 0.25 inches of precipitation, while many north-central Montana locations were expected to get less than 0.1 inches, and a coating to a couple inches of snow was possible in the mountains.
Up to a foot of snow was possible in the mountains in southern Montana and Wyoming through tomorrow evening. A winter storm warning was in effect for the Absarokas and Beartooths through 6pm Thursday, and a winter weather advisory was in effect for the Bighorn and Pryor mountains from 3am to 9pm Thursday.
Beartooth Highway Friday
The Beartooth Highway was expected to receive snow tonight and tomorrow, and its opening was currently projected for Friday. After that, high pressure was expected to bring partly to mostly sunny and mostly dry weather from Friday through Monday, with just a couple stray afternoon showers and storms on Friday and Saturday.
Friday highs were expected in the mid to upper 60s and low 70s, then Saturday reaches the 70s and low 80s. Sunday stays warm in the mid to upper 70s and low to mid 80s, with breezy conditions developing later in the period.
Monday Heat
By Monday, highs were expected in the 80s and low 90s, with sustained wind speeds between 10 and 25 mph and wind gusts that could occasionally approach 40 mph. Some isolated afternoon showers and thunderstorms were also expected Monday.
For anyone planning outdoor time over the holiday weekend, Friday and Saturday look like the calmest days, while Sunday and Monday bring the warmest readings and the strongest wind. Tuesday afternoon and evening, cloud cover was expected to increase as scattered showers and thunderstorms return with an upper-level trough.
