MISSOULA — For this afternoon and evening, light snow will continue around the region with only minor impacts expected.
An impactful winter storm will move in Friday bringing heavy snow to the mountains and Northwest Montana.
Arctic air will move from east to west across the divide into Northwest Montana on Friday. At the same time, this cold air will interact with a storm system from the Pacific Ocean.
The combination of these two systems will result in heavy snow for the northwest part of the state. The heaviest snow will fall from the Flathead Valley and east where winter storm warnings have been issued (see above graphs for snow totals.).
As you head south snow amounts will drop quickly as the arctic air is not expected to make it this far, this means rain will begin to mix with snow by Friday late morning or afternoon.
Mountains during this time will experience off-and-on heavy snow with the heaviest snow impacting Lookout and Marias passes (again see above graph for pass totals).
By the weekend, warmer air will move into all of Western Montana keeping snow showers in the mountains and rain or rain/snow in the valleys.
