Caution Urged as Snow Hits Montana’s High Country

There are no blizzards in the forecast. But travelers in Montana's high country should be prepared for hypothermic conditions, as it seems like fall, and even winter, is already trying to claim the high country.

The National Weather Service is tracking an active, unseasonably cold upper-level low moving into the Treasure State over the weekend. This system will deliver widespread valley rains, gusty winds over higher terrain and through tighter valleys, with accumulating high-elevation mountain snowfall above 7,000 feet.

Forecasters say temperatures will run ten to fifteen degrees below seasonal averages before a modest drying trend begins to take shape by Monday afternoon.

Already cooler Saturday

Starting West of the Continental Divide on Saturday, thick cloud cover and scattered rain showers will keep valley highs capped in the upper 50s to lower 60s, with snow mixing in across higher mountain passes later in the day.

East of the Continental Divide, Central and Southwest Montana will turn cloudy and cool, tracking widespread light rain and afternoon highs near 60 degrees around Great Falls and Helena alongside gusty northerly breezes. Across the eastern plains, Northeast and Southeast Montana will see breezy conditions and increasing cloud cover, with isolated afternoon showers and highs reaching the mid-60s around Havre and Miles City.

Sunday's weather is downright nasty

While the Sunday forecast doesn't have the ferocity of the storm that raked the state over Labor Day, it's still something to be ready for.

As the cold upper low settles over Montana, steady rains and snow down to 7,000 feet will create some dangerous conditions for hikers, hunters, and others who aren't prepared. And with temperatures dropping, snow levels on the Northern Divide could easily drop to 6,000 feet.

     ❄️ Snow accumulations have been forecast as high as 6 inches on the higher peaks.

East of the Divide, Central and Southwest Montana will experience blustery north winds, periods of light rain, and cool highs limited to 63 degrees in Great Falls. In Northeast and Southeast Montana, overcast skies and scattered rain showers will spread across the plains, keeping highs in the lower 60s in the Billings region.

Improvement Monday, but still colder

That low-pressure system will move eastward on Monday, allowing temperatures to stabilize. Expect clouds in the morning, with some lingering showers, followed by sun in the afternoon. But temperatures will still be in the upper 50s in the west, and not much warmer than the low 60s across Eastern Montana.