textproduct: Glasgow

KEY MESSAGES

- A strong cold front will bring much colder conditions today. General rain this morning will transition to snow for some and linger into Saturday.

- High Wind Warning until 8pm across NE Montana for gusts up to 60 mph.

- Winter Weather Advisory for northern Phillips county from 6 AM to 2 PM.

DISCUSSION

WEATHER PATTERN OVERVIEW:

As a strong low pressure system slowly exits east through NE Montana widespread rain showers with embedded isolated thunderstorms, mostly though the early hours of the morning on Thursday. A strong cold front will sweep down from Saskatchewan generating rain Thursday with wet snow at highest elevations such as Opheim. Brief, heavy snow is also possible through mid morning which could impact the morning commute and put significant strain on newborn livestock. This prompted a Winter Weather Advisory for northern Valley county through the morning. Gusty winds will also persist through the day with northwest gusts 30-50 mph. A High Wind Warning was raised Thursday until 8pm across the area for occasional gusts to around 60 mph being likely and pockets of 40 mph sustained winds.

Much cooler weather looks to stick around through next week, with lows to stay at or below freezing through the forecast cycle. An additional shortwave passing through Friday presents a chance for more widespread snow showers. Gusty winds continue through Friday's system as well. FORECAST CONFIDENCE & DEVIATIONS:

Blended in 25% NBM90 for day 1 wind gusts. Used a blend of HiRes models for PoPs through 3Z tomorrow. Added more widespread showers through 18Z.

AVIATION

UPDATED: 0530Z

FLIGHT CONDITION: MVFR - IFR

DISCUSSION: Rain showers will continue through 20Z, with isolated thunderstorms possible tonight. MVFR to IFR ceilings move into the region beginning 9Z as the low pushes east, and a transition to rain snow mix beginning after 12Z with the exact timing/locations remain uncertain. Strong northwest winds are expected through the evening tomorrow, with gusts reaching up to 45 kts during the afternoon between 15Z and 0Z.

WIND: Veering toward the NW through tonight with gusts up to 25 kts increasing to 20 to 30 kts gust 45 kts by the morning.

GGW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

High Wind Warning until 8 PM MDT this evening for Central and Southeast Phillips-Central and Southern Valley-Garfield-Northern Phillips-Northern Valley-Petroleum-Southwest Phillips.

High Wind Warning from 6 AM this morning to 8 PM MDT this evening for Daniels-Dawson-Eastern Roosevelt-McCone-Prairie- Richland-Sheridan-Western Roosevelt-Wibaux.

Winter Weather Advisory from 6 AM this morning to 2 PM MDT this afternoon for Northern Valley.