News you can use
News you can use
Cold winter temps expected to return next week
Tim Leeds
While north-central Montana got a balmy respite this week from the bitter cold with temperatures at least in the 30s, winter is expected to rear his head with arctic-level temperatures again last week.
While temperatures like Tuesday's minus 42 in Havre and Chinook — the coldest in the nation — are not predicted as yet, the National Weather Service forecast this morning called for a low of minus 14 Sunday night with a high of minus 2 Monday.
The break in the weather may have given governments, business owners, managers and local residents some time to clear some snow and ice and prepare — again — for bitter cold, but more snow also is in the forecast.
Chris Zelzer, National Weather Service meteorologist in Great Falls, said this morning that two systems are moving down from the north, likely to bring cold temperatures starting Sunday and running through the middle of the week.
The longest model of the forecast — going through about Valentine's Day — predicts a warming trend with temperatures closer to normal, likely in the 20s and 30s, he said.
"The reliability (that far out) is a bit hazy," Zelzer added.
Totals, averages, forecast
The averages for Havre in January were, as predicted in the fall, a little colder and a little wetter than normal.
The average high was 21.6 degrees, 3.9 degrees colder than the average of 25.5 degrees.
The precipitation was far above average, with the monthly snowfall of 17.5 inches nearly double the average of 8.8 inches. The resulting precipitation level also overwhelmed the average, with 1.14 inches recorded compared to an average of .47 inches.
While February may — or may not — have more records, local residents are warned to be prepared.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency — primarily focused on the aftermath of the winter storms blanketing the central and eastern portions of the United States — issued a release Thursday urging people to continue to be prepared, to be careful and to listen to local radio and television broadcasts for emergency notifications.
"Even though this winter storm has passed, you should still be extremely careful because roads may be icy and cold temperatures are forecast throughout the country for the remainder of the week," FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate said in the release. "This storm serves as an important reminder that we should all be prepared for winter weather and other emergencies.
"Don't wait until the next storm. If you haven't already, visit http://www.ready.gov today and learn the few simple steps you and your family can take to be prepared," Fugate added.
Today's prediction called for a slight chance of snow this morning followed by a chance of rain, with more snow likely after 11 p.m. The forecast called for a 70 percent chance of precipitation tonight with an accumulation of 1 inch to 3 inches of new snow, with a high of 41 and a low of 28.
The snow is predicted to continue Saturday, with temperatures continuing to creep back down and a high forecast at 35 degrees. The prediction calls for a 60-percent chance of snow Saturday with accumulations of about half-an-inch possible, and a 50-percent chance Saturday night with possible additional accumulations of 1 inch to 3 inches.
A chance of additional snow is predicted through Monday, with the precipitation dropping off through the colder weather.
The forecast for Thursday calls for slightly higher temperatures — a high of 20 degrees — and partly sunny skies.
The temperatures and snow could be the start of a decades-long trend. Weather and oceanographic agencies have reported that changes in temperatures in the oceans of the Arctic could reverse a 30-year trend.
The last three decades have seen years with winters of average warmer temperatures and lower-than-average precipitation, including predominant El Niño weather patterns leading to those conditions.
A reversal of the arctic conditions, along with other long-term changes in patterns, has led to a forecast of predominantly colder winters with more precipitation over the next decades, dominated by more La Niña conditions as in this year.
While north-central Montana got a balmy respite this week from the bitter cold with temperatures at least in the 30s, winter is expected to rear his head with arctic-level temperatures again last week.
While temperatures like Tuesday's minus 42 in Havre and Chinook — the coldest in the nation — are not predicted as yet, the National Weather Service forecast this morning called for a low of minus 14 Sunday night with a high of minus 2 Monday.
The break in the weather may have given governments, business owners, managers and local residents some time to clear some snow and ice and prepare — again — for bitter cold, but more snow also is in the forecast.
Chris Zelzer, National Weather Service meteorologist in Great Falls, said this morning that two systems are moving down from the north, likely to bring cold temperatures starting Sunday and running through the middle of the week.
The longest model of the forecast — going through about Valentine's Day — predicts a warming trend with temperatures closer to normal, likely in the 20s and 30s, he said.
"The reliability (that far out) is a bit hazy," Zelzer added.
The averages for Havre in January were, as predicted in the fall, a little colder and a little wetter than normal.
The average high was 21.6 degrees, 3.9 degrees colder than the average of 25.5 degrees.
The precipitation was far above average, with the monthly snowfall of 17.5 inches nearly double the average of 8.8 inches. The resulting precipitation level also overwhelmed the average, with 1.14 inches recorded compared to an average of .47 inches.
While February may — or may not — have more records, local residents are warned to be prepared.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency — primarily focused on the aftermath of the winter storms blanketing the central and eastern portions of the United States — issued a release Thursday urging people to continue to be prepared, to be careful and to listen to local radio and television broadcasts for emergency notifications.
"Even though this winter storm has passed, you should still be extremely careful because roads may be icy and cold temperatures are forecast throughout the country for the remainder of the week," FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate said in the release. "This storm serves as an important reminder that we should all be prepared for winter weather and other emergencies.
"Don't wait until the next storm. If you haven't already, visit http://www.ready.gov today and learn the few simple steps you and your family can take to be prepared," Fugate added.
Today's prediction called for a slight chance of snow this morning followed by a chance of rain, with more snow likely after 11 p.m. The forecast called for a 70 percent chance of precipitation tonight with an accumulation of 1 inch to 3 inches of new snow, with a high of 41 and a low of 28.
The snow is predicted to continue Saturday, with temperatures continuing to creep back down and a high forecast at 35 degrees. The prediction calls for a 60-percent chance of snow Saturday with accumulations of about half-an-inch possible, and a 50-percent chance Saturday night with possible additional accumulations of 1 inch to 3 inches.
A chance of additional snow is predicted through Monday, with the precipitation dropping off through the colder weather.
The forecast for Thursday calls for slightly higher temperatures — a high of 20 degrees — and partly sunny skies.
The temperatures and snow could be the start of a decades-long trend. Weather and oceanographic agencies have reported that changes in temperatures in the oceans of the Arctic could reverse a 30-year trend.
The last three decades have seen years with winters of average warmer temperatures and lower-than-average precipitation, including predominant El Niño weather patterns leading to those conditions.
A reversal of the arctic conditions, along with other long-term changes in patterns, has led to a forecast of predominantly colder winters with more precipitation over the next decades, dominated by more La Niña conditions as in this year.
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