Weather





Helena, Montana

National Weather Service: Winter Storm Warning

Current Conditions

 
Temp: 40°
Dew Point: 18°
Humidity: 41%
Wind: North 15 mph
Visibility: 10.0 miles
Pressure: 30.24 in. 0
Sky: Overcast
Wind Chill: 32°

 

Customize Your Weather

Get weather by ZIP code, city, state, airport code or country:

Weather by E-mail: Get forecasts and storm alerts delivered to you.

Sign Up...

Almanac

Average High: 62°

Average Low: 33°

Record high/year: 83° (1996)

Record low/year: 15° (1987)

Sunrise: 7:39 AM

Sunset: 6:49 PM

Detailed History

Sun and Moon

Sunrise: 07:39 AM (MDT)

Moon Rise: 04:58 PM (MDT)

Sunset: 06:49 PM (MDT)

Moon Set: 02:40 AM (MDT)

Moon Phase

Today
Oct. 14
Oct. 21
Oct. 28
Nov. 05

 

Local Radar

Local Satellite



Next 12 Hours

 
4  pm
7  pm
10  pm
1  am
4  am
Snow Snow
Snow Snow
Snow Snow
Snow Snow
Snow Snow
38°
36°
29°
27°
25°

 

Forecast data from the National Digital Forecast Database


5-Day Forecast

Friday Snow Hi 38° Lo 22° Snow
Saturday Chance of Snow Hi 32° Lo 23° Chance of Snow
Sunday Chance of Snow Hi 36° Lo 16° Chance of Snow
Monday Partly Cloudy Hi 45° Lo 27° Partly Cloudy
Tuesday Partly Cloudy Hi 52° Lo 32° Partly Cloudy

 

Forecast for Central and Southern Lewis and Clark

Updated: 3:06 PM MDT on October 10, 2008
Winter Storm Warning in effect until 6 PM MDT Sunday...

Tonight

A chance of snow in the evening...then snow likely after midnight. Snow accumulation 1 to 2 inches. Lows 15 to 25. North winds 10 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph.

 

Saturday

Snow likely. Snow accumulation 1 to 3 inches. Highs 30 to 35...20 to 30 in the mountains. North winds 10 to 20 mph with gusts to 35 mph.

 

Saturday Night

Snow likely. Snow accumulation 1 to 3 inches... 1 to 4 inches in the mountains. Lows 20 to 25...10 to 20 in the mountains. North winds 10 to 20 mph. Gusts up to 30 mph in the evening.

 

Sunday

Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of snow. Highs 25 to 35. Northwest winds 5 to 15 mph.

 

Sunday Night

Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of snow showers. Lows 15 to 25. West winds 5 to 15 mph.

 

Columbus Day

Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of snow. Highs 40 to 45.

 

Monday Night

Partly cloudy. Lows 25 to 30.

 

Tuesday through Wednesday

Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of rain and snow showers. Highs 45 to 55. Lows 25 to 35.

 

Wednesday Night

Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of snow showers. Lows 25 to 30.

 

Thursday and Thursday Night

Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of rain and snow. Highs 50 to 55. Lows 25 to 35.

 

Friday

Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of rain and snow. Highs 45 to 55.

 

 

Probability of Precipitation

Place Tonight Saturday Saturday Night Sunday Sunday Night Monday
Helena 29°F 60% 36°F 60% 27°F 50% 37°F 50% 19°F 20% 46°F 20%

  = Probability of Precipitation

 Winter Storm Warning  Statement as of 2:43 PM MDT on October 10, 2008


... Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 6 PM MDT Sunday...

A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 6 PM MDT Sunday.

Snow will continue to fall across southwest Montana and southern
portions of central Montana through Sunday afternoon. Brisk north
to northeast winds of 15 to 30 mph will cause areas of blowing
snow in the mountains... and also through favored canyons and
gaps. By Sunday afternoon expect 4 to 8 inches of snow
accumulation at lower elevations... with 15 to 30 inches of snow
likely in the mountains.

Snow will initially melt on Road surfaces but will freeze as
temperatures drop below freezing overnight. This could cause
dangerous driving conditions as ice forms on the roadway.

For specific Road and travel conditions in Montana... dial 5 1 1.





 Local Storm Report 



10/10/2008 0850 am

3 miles SSE of Helena, Jefferson County.

Snow e4.0 inch, reported by public.


            Elevation 5500 feet




10/10/2008 0850 am

3 miles SSE of Helena, Jefferson County.

Snow e4.0 inch, reported by public.


            Elevation 5500 feet




10/09/2008 0955 PM

3 miles S of Helena, Lewis And Clark County.

Snow m2.0 inch, reported by broadcast media.


            Reported from the town of Unionville... elevation 5000
            feet. Currently snowing moderately.





10/09/2008 0955 PM

3 miles S of Helena, Lewis And Clark County.

Snow m2.0 inch, reported by broadcast media.


            Reported from the town of Unionville... elevation 5000
            feet. Currently snowing moderately.




Personal Weather Stations

Personal Weather Stations [Add your weather station!]

Location: APRSWXNET Helena MT US, Helena, MT

Updated: 2:47 PM MDT

Temperature: 40 °F Dew Point: 21 °F Humidity: 47% Wind: NW at 5 mph Pressure: 30.27 in Hourly Precipitation: 0.00 in Windchill: 36 °F Historical Graphs

Location: Diehl Heights, Helena, MT

Updated: 3:05 PM MDT

Temperature: 36.0 °F Dew Point: 17 °F Humidity: 46% Wind: NE at 5.0 mph Pressure: 30.18 in Hourly Precipitation: 0.00 in Windchill: 32 °F Historical Graphs

Location: RAWS HELENA MT US, Helena, MT

Updated: 1:53 PM MDT

Temperature: 35 °F Dew Point: 21 °F Humidity: 57% Wind: NNW at 15 mph Pressure: - Hourly Precipitation: 0.00 in Windchill: 25 °F Historical Graphs

Location: Montana City, MT Weather, Montana City, MT

Updated: 3:05 PM MDT

Temperature: 35.4 °F Dew Point: 10 °F Humidity: 35% Wind: NNE at 12.0 mph Pressure: 30.06 in Hourly Precipitation: 0.00 in Windchill: 27 °F Historical Graphs

Location: Saddle Mountain, Montana City, MT

Updated: 3:07 PM MDT

Temperature: 33.8 °F Dew Point: 16 °F Humidity: 48% Wind: WSW at 4.0 mph Pressure: 30.07 in Hourly Precipitation: 0.00 in Windchill: 30 °F Historical Graphs

Location: McClellan Creek Road, Montana City, MT

Updated: 3:07 PM MDT

Temperature: 33.1 °F Dew Point: 12 °F Humidity: 42% Wind: North at 2.7 mph Pressure: 29.98 in Hourly Precipitation: 0.00 in Windchill: 33 °F Historical Graphs

Location: Gates of the Mountains, Helena, MT

Updated: 3:07 PM MDT

Temperature: 38.5 °F Dew Point: 20 °F Humidity: 46% Wind: North at 8.1 mph Pressure: 30.17 in Hourly Precipitation: 0.00 in Windchill: 33 °F Historical Graphs

Location: Helena National Forest -York Gulch, Helena, MT

Updated: 3:07 PM MDT

Temperature: 38.8 °F Dew Point: 16 °F Humidity: 39% Wind: SSE at 6.9 mph Pressure: 30.01 in Hourly Precipitation: 0.00 in Windchill: 34 °F Historical Graphs

Location: MesoWest MacDonald Pass US-12 MP 27.9 MT US MT DOT, Helena, MT

Updated: 2:15 PM MDT

Temperature: 29 °F Dew Point: 23 °F Humidity: 77% Wind: East at 15 mph Pressure: - Hourly Precipitation: 0.00 in Windchill: 18 °F Historical Graphs

Location: MesoWest FROHNER MEADOW MT US SNOTEL, Helena, MT

Updated: 2:00 PM MDT

Temperature: 25 °F Dew Point: - Humidity: - Wind: Calm Pressure: - Hourly Precipitation: 0.00 in Windchill: 25 °F Historical Graphs

Location: MesoWest TIZER BASIN MT US SNOTEL, Winston, MT

Updated: 2:00 PM MDT

Temperature: 25 °F Dew Point: - Humidity: - Wind: Calm Pressure: - Hourly Precipitation: 0.00 in Windchill: 25 °F Historical Graphs

Location: MesoWest Boulder Hill I-15 MP 170.9 MT US MT DOT, Jefferson City, MT

Updated: 2:16 PM MDT

Temperature: 26 °F Dew Point: 20 °F Humidity: 77% Wind: North at 21 mph Pressure: - Hourly Precipitation: 0.00 in Windchill: 12 °F Historical Graphs

Location: MesoWest ROCKER PEAK MT US SNOTEL, Basin, MT

Updated: 2:00 PM MDT

Temperature: 19 °F Dew Point: - Humidity: - Wind: Calm Pressure: - Hourly Precipitation: 0.00 in Windchill: 19 °F Historical Graphs

MSN Maps of:

Temperature Dew Point Humidity Wind Pressure Hourly Precipitation -

NWS Forecaster Discussion




162 
fxus65 ktfx 102059 
afdtfx 


Area forecast discussion 
National Weather Service Great Falls Montana 
259 PM MDT Friday Oct 10 2008 


Discussion... 


Tonight through Sunday...early season winter storm will continue 
to impact southwest Montana and southern portions of central 
Montana. However...most of north central Montana remains beneath 
partly cloudy to mostly cloudy skies with only a slight chance to 
chance of snow expected during the short term period. The deep 
upper level low will continue to spin over the Great Basin through 
Saturday then will finally begin to lift out to the northeast 
Saturday night and Sunday. As the low lifts out...precipitation 
will begin to taper off in southwest Montana. At the same time a 
combination of strong upper level forcing and low level 
frontogenesis will cause a significant band of precipitation 
across eastern portions of my County Warning Area. Have opted to add Blaine County 
to the Winter Storm Warning for the period of Saturday night 
through early Monday morning...and have also extended Fergus 
County out overnight on Sunday as well. Mpj 


Sunday night through Wednesday night...a deep...upper level low 
pressure system will continue to move slowly east...moving across 
the Montana/Dakota border Sunday night. High pressure will build 
aloft over the zones and the the airmass will begin a drying and 
warming trend that will last into Tuesday. An upper level low 
pressure trough will cross The Rockies early Wednesday. This will be a 
rather fast-moving system and the chance of precipitation will 
remain low. However...breezy conditions will remain over the area 
until this short wave moves into eastern Montana. The warming trend 
will also be interrupted until another high pressure ridge begins to 
build over the area on Thursday. Zelzer 


Thursday and Friday...a disturbance in a northwest flow moves east 
out of the zones Thursday allowing high pressure to build in from 
the west. A zonal flow sets up ahead of the next Pacific system by 
Friday. Saucier 


&& 


Aviation... 
updated 1750z. 
A deep upper level low pressure trough will remain over the area 
through Saturday keeping the airmass cool and moist. Periods of snow 
and low ceilings will cause areas of MVFR conditions across southwest 
Montana and portions of north central Montana. VFR conditions will 
prevail over much of north central Montana and the Canadian border 
with periods of MVFR conditions with snow showers and fog. Surface 
flow will generally remain northeast and brisk. 


&& 


Preliminary point temps/pops... 
gtf 25 34 22 35 / 30 40 50 30 
ctb 21 35 19 40 / 20 20 20 10 
hln 29 36 27 37 / 60 60 50 50 
bzn 26 37 25 34 / 80 80 80 70 
wey 19 30 18 27 / 90 80 90 60 
dln 21 30 18 31 / 90 70 80 50 
hvr 24 41 21 38 / 20 20 20 30 
lwt 23 31 19 29 / 70 80 80 90 


&& 


Tfx watches/warnings/advisories... 
Winter Storm Warning continues until 6 PM MDT Sunday for 
mtz008-012-014- 015-050-052>055. 


Winter Storm Warning continues until 6 am MDT Monday for mtz051. 


Winter Storm Warning from 6 PM Saturday to 6 am MDT Monday for 
mtz047. 


&& 


$$ 


Short term...mpj 
long term...zelzer/Saucier 
aviation...loss 


Weather.Gov/greatfalls 










National Weather Service Glossary of Abbreviations

Non-Expanded Version (with abbreviations)

Powered by the Weather Underground, Inc.