After forecasting a hotter- and dryer-than-normal Montana in October, and the region seeing unseasonably high temperatures in the last week, the National Weather Service now is predicting a wave of cooler and wetter weather to move into the state this week.
There was even a chance of snow at elevations near and above a mile.
Great Falls National Weather Service issued an advisory Sunday that temperatures should drop to near normal or below normal temperatures as cooler air moves into the state, with precipitation forecast in Western Montana and along the Rocky Mountain Front in midweek, with a good chance of precipitation in the Lewistown area by late in the week.
“Accumulating snow will be possible in the mountains at times, mainly above 5,500 feet, starting on Wednesday night and then continuing through the remainder of the week, ” the advisory says.
This following a week of temperatures in the 80s and 90s, including a state high of 89 in Miles City Sunday.
Havre Sunday recorded a high of 75 degrees, 10 degrees higher than normal. The high Saturday was 86, with a normal high of 65 also, and Friday saw a new record at 92 degrees, 26 degrees higher than normal.
Last month also was extremely dry, with Havre recording. 27 inches of precipitation, nearly an inch shy of the normal of 1.12 inches and far short of 2010’s 1.72 inches.
This week’s forecast for Havre calls for high temperatures in the 70s by midweek with lows in the 40s, dropping to highs in the 60s by the weekend and a chance of rain through midweek and rain likely by Friday.
The Weather Service release advised that people can receive further updates on its website at www.weather.gov/greatfalls.
