As we settle into the week, Missoula is bracing for a rather typical late autumn/early winter transition, with a mix of cloudy skies, chilly temperatures, and the occasional sprinkle of precipitation.
Looking at the immediate forecast, tonight is expected to be quite cold, with temperatures dipping to around -7°C under partly cloudy skies. Winds will be light, so it might feel a bit still out there. The UV index is low, as expected this time of year.
As we move into Sunday, the day will bring a slight warming trend, with highs reaching about 5°C, though it will remain cloudy. The low for Sunday night will be around -1°C. This pattern of cloudy days and cold nights seems to be a recurring theme.
Monday and Tuesday offer a bit more of the same, with highs climbing into the 8°C range, but still under mostly cloudy conditions. Overnight lows will hover just above or below freezing. There's a chance of some rain or even snow showers developing, especially as we head into Tuesday night.
By mid-week, around Tuesday the 16th, we see a higher chance of rain, with showers expected in the morning and rain developing late into the night. Temperatures will be around 9°C during the day, dropping to 5°C at night. Winds will pick up a bit, coming from the southwest.
Wednesday the 17th looks to be a bit more active. Expect windy conditions with periods of rain in the morning, and the chance of rain is high, potentially gusting over 65 km/h. The high will be around 8°C, but it will turn colder at night, dropping to -2°C with cloudy skies. This is a day to keep an eye on the wind and rain.
As we approach the end of the week, Thursday the 18th, snow is expected to develop in the afternoon, with a high of only 2°C. The night will bring rain, with lows around 3°C. Friday the 19th continues the theme of mixed precipitation, with a mix of rain and snow during the day, and snow showers expected at night. Highs will be around 6°C, with overnight lows dropping back to -2°C.
The weekend, the 20th and 21st, looks to be mostly cloudy with highs struggling to get above 3°C. Overnight lows will be quite cold, dipping to -6°C on Saturday night and -1°C on Sunday night. There's a chance of a mix of rain and snow showers on Sunday.
Looking further out, into the following week, the pattern of mixed rain and snow showers continues, with temperatures generally staying in the low single digits Celsius for highs and below freezing for lows. Snow accumulations are expected to be minimal, generally less than 2 cm when snow is present.
It's a classic Montana transition period, so layering up and being prepared for changing conditions is definitely the way to go. Keep an umbrella handy, and don't be surprised if you see a bit of everything the weather has to offer!
