Montana, Wyoming Brace for Snow, Cold Temps While Much of the U.S. Sizzles

WU ^ | August 22, 2014 | By Linda Lam

[Hojczyk]

While much of the U.S. will swelter in heat and humidity this weekend, it will feel more like fall, or even winter, for much of Montana and Wyoming.

An unseasonably cold low pressure system is expected to bring below-average temperatures to the northern Rockies through early next week. Temperatures will be up to 35 degrees below average in some locations this weekend. Glacier National Park may not even reach 50 degrees for a high on Saturday.

In fact, low temperatures will drop below freezing in the higher elevations, leading to the chance for the first snow of the season to fall. In West Glacier, Montana, the average date for the first temperature below 32 degrees is Sept. 13, so the cold conditions are about three weeks ahead of schedule.

(FORECAST: Glacier National Park | Yellowstone National Park)

There is abundant moisture with this system that will bring rain to the region with snow possible in the higher elevations. There will be gusty winds as well. The cold rain will be heavy at times and enhanced by deepening upslope flow on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains.

Snow accumulations will generally be a few inches or less, and the snow is expected to melt quickly. Up to 5 inches of snow is possible at the highest elevations through Sunday.

Snow levels will lower to near 6,500 feet in Glacier National Park, with light accumulations possible at Logan Pass. The higher peaks of the Big Horn Mountains in Wyoming could see about 3 inches of snow by Sunday.

[Delta Dawn]

You call yours horses, huh?

That’s impressive...

[knarf]

I forgot about that ... we DID have three or four days of real summer stuck in there ... just to tease us.

Never DID put my pool up this year .... kept waiting for summer to happen.

[Rockpile]

The lucky sled dogs. 99 F at my house today. It is 90 plus basically every day except the rare days it actually clouds up and rains during the day.