textproduct: Great Falls

KEY MESSAGES

- A few scattered rain or snow showers through Friday night.

- Breezy conditions Thursday thru Sat along the Rocky Mountain Front.

- Overall, above normal temperatures expected for the next several days.

DISCUSSION

/Issued 123 PM MST Wed Jan 28 2026/

- Meteorological Overview: The overall weather pattern for late January/early February will be fairly consistent, with no major storm systems to affect Central MT, with generally above normal temperatures and just a passing rain/snow shower through Saturday. For Sunday into early next week, after a mild day on Sunday, temperatures will cool a touch for early next week, but still generally remain above normal.

Right now, a weak upper level disturbance is moving from west to east across the CWA. A few light rain/snow showers are accompanying this disturbance. Most of the precip will end by Midnight, but some light snow showers could continue into Thursday morning in the Havre area.

For Thu thru Sat, expect windy conditions at times along the front range of the Rockies. Overall, wind speeds should remain below warning criteria, thus no wind statements at this time.

As we go through the weekend, an upper level ridge will gradually build over MT, resulting in a drying trend, and warmer air moving into the CWA. Sunday should be the warmest day, with temperatures a touch cooler for early next week. Any precipitation for the first half of next week looks really isolated/light, if at all, at this time.

- Forecast Confidence & Scenarios: Snow accumulations could approach an inch or so in the mountains tonight in the Little/Big Belts, Bridgers and Gallatin ranges. Otherwise, snowfall should be just a few tenths or less at lower elevations from a passing snow shower. Should a heavier snow shower develop at lower elevations, a SPS might need to be issued.

There is less than a 30 percent chance right now of strong winds in the Cut Bank area from Thu thru Sat, thus no wind statements will be issued at this time. Brusda

AVIATION

29/00Z TAF Period

A mid level shortwave disturbance continues to slide east across the area this evening with low-VFR cloud ceilings, mountain obscuration and areas of light precipitation. Snow showers may affect KHVR, KLWT and KBZN this evening with probabilities for MVFR cigs/vis ranging from around 30% at KBZN to 50% at KLWT and 70% at KHVR. Clouds decrease from west to east after 06z with lower cloud ceilings and risk for light precipitation lingering through the overnight period at KHVR. Hoenisch

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

GTF 29 48 31 50 / 10 0 0 0 CTB 26 45 28 47 / 0 0 0 0 HLN 27 45 28 46 / 10 0 0 10 BZN 19 41 22 44 / 20 0 10 10 WYS 7 28 11 31 / 20 10 10 20 DLN 18 40 20 44 / 0 0 0 0 HVR 20 41 19 41 / 20 0 0 0 LWT 24 43 25 46 / 10 0 0 0

TFX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.