Happy February 1st!
February starts off more like a day in late Spring would, but changes are moving in quickly.
A very mild day is in store for the Treasure State today.
Some areas will not even see subfreezing temperatures overnight.
Saturday morning and afternoon plans have a slight change of rain, but showers will be very isolated.
Temperatures remain warm enough for precipitation to fall as rain through late evening Saturday, but that’s when changes start moving in quickly.
A cold front moves through the state late Saturday night into early Sunday morning.
The coldest air we’ve seen all winter will move in, and temperatures go from above freezing to subzero in as little as 24 hours.
Next week, some days will not see above subfreezing highs.
Snow also moves in with the frigid air.
Heavy snow showers are expected to pick up early Sunday morning into Monday afternoon- prompting a Winter Storm Watch for most of the state.
From the National Weather Service in Great Falls:
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Great Falls MT 339 AM MST Fri Feb 1 2019 MTZ012-013-047-049>051-020000- /O.CON.KTFX.WS.A.0002.190203T0300Z-190205T0000Z/ Cascade-Chouteau-Blaine-Eastern Teton-Judith Basin-Fergus- Including Great Falls, Cascade, Belt, Kings Hill Pass, Fort Benton, Carter, Big Sandy, Chinook, Harlem, Hays, Fairfield, Dutton, Raynesford, Stanford, Hobson, Lewistown, Winifred, Lewistown Divide, and Grass Range 339 AM MST Fri Feb 1 2019 ...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON... * WHAT...Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations of 5 to 10 inches at lower elevations and 10 to 16 inches in the mountains. * WHERE...Portions of central and north central Montana. * WHEN...From Saturday evening through Monday afternoon. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Travel could be very difficult. The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 35 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Winter Storm Watch means there is potential for significant snow, sleet or ice accumulations that may impact travel. Continue to monitor the latest forecasts.
