textproduct: Great Falls

KEY MESSAGES

- Mild and dry today with locally breezy conditions.

- A Pacific frontal system brings snow to areas along northern portions of the continental divide tonight with blustery, cooler and showery conditions across the rest of north- central and southwest Montana on Monday.

- Overall cooler conditions for the upcoming week with a spring- type storm system and potential for snowfall late in the work week.

DISCUSSION

/Issued 203 AM MDT Sun Mar 29 2026/

- Meteorological Overview:

Zonal/westerly flow aloft continues across the Northern Rockies and MT today before a shortwave tracks east along the US/Canadian border tonight through Monday, dragging a Pacific cold front across the area. The cooler airmass and low clouds that spread south from AB into northern-portions of North-centrla MT overnight will retreat back to the north this morning as westerly flow across the Rockies induces surface troughing to the lee of the Rockies and breezy westerly winds spread across the area by this afternoon, bringing one more day of above average temperatures and mainly dry conditions. Snow begins late this afternoon across the divide in the Glacier NP area as moisture increases ahead of the incoming Pacific front with steadier precipitation continuing there and expanding south through the wilderness areas along the divide before turning showery behind the Pacific front Monday morning. Showers accompany the Pacific front as is passes through north-central MT late tonight through Monday morning and across southwest MT Monday afternoon. Temperatures will be significantly cooler on Monday with afternoon temperatures in the 30s and 40s behind the front and gusty west to north winds also contributing to blustery and cool conditions. Snow levels lower with the frontal passage to allow for some wet snow showers, even at lower elevations, however measurable snowfall will be limited to areas near Glacier NP and northern portions of the continental divide.

Clearing skies and lighter winds Monday night will allow temperatures to cool to the teens with dry but still below average temperatures expected on Tuesday. Some warming is anticipated on Wednesday as flow aloft turns to the southwest ahead of an incoming trough from the Pacific. The trough moves across the region Thursday and Friday with model ensembles trending toward an evolution with a closed mid level low tracking across ID and northern WY Thursday night through Friday. This is a favorable spring-type storm track for widespread precipitation across the area with potential for significant mountain as well as lower elevation snow. Hoenisch

- Forecast Confidence & Scenarios:

A winter weather advisory remains in effect for tonight through Monday morning for the East Glacier Park region. While precipitation develops already this afternoon, the more impactful period begins tonight as temperatures lower and snow intensifies along with winds, peaking late tonight through Monday morning. Snowfall accumulations of 4 to 6 inches are expected over Marias Pass with a 30% chance of amounts exceeding 6 inches there, while 2 to 4 inches are expected for areas along the east side of Glacier NP including Babb south to East Glacier Park. Hoenisch

AVIATION

29/12Z TAF Period.

Low clouds and patchy fog the moved south into portions of north- central MT overnight will dissipate or retreat back north this morning. Otherwise, moderate westerly flow aloft continues across the Northern Rockies today with increasing mid to high level cloud-cover. Precipitation and mountain obscuration develops this afternoon over the Continental Divide near Glacier NP with showers spreading east across portions of north-central MT tonight in association with a Pacific cold front. Hoenisch

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

GTF 60 37 45 18 / 10 30 30 10 CTB 51 24 35 12 / 10 20 40 10 HLN 63 35 49 20 / 0 20 50 10 BZN 69 38 54 19 / 0 10 70 30 WYS 59 34 53 20 / 10 10 60 60 DLN 66 39 56 21 / 0 10 30 10 HVR 52 32 44 15 / 20 50 20 0 LWT 58 33 43 15 / 30 60 70 20

TFX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Winter Weather Advisory from 8 PM this evening to 10 AM MDT Monday for East Glacier Park Region.