The mild weather in western Montana will undergo a change starting Tuesday, but will return by the end of the week according to the National Weather Service in Missoula.

Meteorologist Joe Messina says the change will start on Tuesday morning.

“That’s all going to change tomorrow (Tuesday),” said Messina. “We have an approaching trough that will bring unsettled weather to the area. This system will bring with it some colder air as a Canadian cold front will affect our temperatures, but along with that we’re going to see some precipitation that will start up early Tuesday morning.”

Messina said there will be a mixture of rain and snow, depending upon the elevation.

“In the valleys like Missoula and Kalispell we’ll be getting some rain while in the higher elevations we’ll be expecting snow,” he said. “We’re looking at maybe a dusting in the lower elevations, but on a place like Marias Pass we’re looking at about nine inches. We’re looking at a few inches on Lost Trail and a few inches on Lolo Pass, but for Lookout Pass, there will only be an inch or two of snow.”
Messina said the system will move through the area and depart by Thursday.

“We’ll get back in the upper 30’s to low 40’s by Thursday and Friday,” he said.

Messina said there will be gusty easterly winds that will accompany Tuesday’s Canadian cold front.

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