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2-8 Morning Weather Update

By Steve Newton

Story Created: Feb 8, 2012 at 9:16 AM MDT

Story Updated: Feb 8, 2012 at 9:16 AM MDT

One advantage of having clouds around is that forecasters don’t usually see temperatures below zero. Without the clouds that insulated us yesterday, some recording sites along the Hi-Line dipped below zero this morning, namely Havre and Chinook.

There is some good news, as the sun is due to make an extended appearance today. Temperatures are going to warm-up to the 30s and 40s across the region with southwesterly winds making conditions breezy at times.

Winds along the Hi-Line are going to be calmer, but conditions this morning could knock the wind chill below zero at times. There are some extra clouds over Northeastern Montana this morning, but they are expected to yield to the sun today as well.

A disturbance is pushing across Washington and Oregon, and could bring some clouds to North Central Montana this evening. Those extra clouds are going to keep us insulated and keep temperatures around Great Falls in the low to mid 20s, around 20 along the Rocky Mountain Front, and in the teens on the Hi-Line. Winds will be westerly and breezy at times overnight.

The clouds will be present Thursday, and the moisture from another batch of moist Pacific air will combine with a back-door cold front dropping out of Canada Thursday night. It doesn’t look like we’ll see a dumping of snow all at once, but the plains could see 1-2” of snow from this system once it’s passed, with more expected in the mountains. Snowboarders and skiers, hope the mountains get the majority of the moisture with this system.

The system looks like it will run out of energy by the weekend, but a weak system is expected to bring a little bit of snow to the Rocky Mountain Front Sunday.

Going into next week and toward Valentine’s Day, the models are unsure of what will happen. One model shows a system pushing over the divide and bringing some moisture for Tuesday while the other shows the same system dropping into Utah and missing us.

I’m leaving the slight chance of snow in the forecast for everybody. The Pinpoint Weather Team will keep an eye on the long-range forecast, so check back for the latest updates to the Valentine’s Day forecast.

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Anonymous said on Wednesday, Feb 8 at 12:04 PM

Steve Newton, very easy on the eyes, and ears. I would watch him every day even though I don't live in Montana.

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