Topsy-turvy weather stays in the forecast

With up-and-down, back-and-forth weather conditions in this part of north-central Montana, forecasters are saying the area might get a short break from bitter cold, but some more snow, before below-zero temperatures return.

After massive amounts of new snow last week — National Weather Service reports Havre has seen more than 70 inches fall since July 1 — and bitter temperatures over the weekend — lows of minus 23 Friday, minus 24 Saturday, minus 21 Sunday and minus 31 this morning — the forecast is up-and-down for the rest of the week.

The forecast high for today is minus 8 degrees and a low of minus 21 tonight with dangerous wind chills included, but for Tuesday the prediction includes a west-southwest wind bringing a forecast high of 30 and for Wednesday the predicted high is 27.

The topsy-turvy weather continues, with Weather Channel predicting a high of 1 above Thursday, 25 above Friday, then a balmy 34 degrees Saturday — with the temperatures dropping right back down to a high of 6 above and low of minus 14 Sunday and highs below zero early next week.

Weather Channel’s long-range forecast predicts hits in the teens with lows in the single digits or below zero later in the week.

Massive amounts of snow like the state saw last week — the accumulation since July 1 through Feb. 3 jumped nearly 20 inches for Havre by today — are not expected here in the near future, although the forecast calls for snow flurries Tuesday night and 70 percent to 80 percent chance of snow Wednesday and Wednesday night with two to six inches of accumulation expected.

Other than a chance of flurries or showers with up to one inch expected Saturday and Sunday, the forecast predicts no other snow.