Forecast calls for warmer temps, wind and snow

After another drop into bitterly cold temperatures, the forecast for north-central Montana calls for a big switch in temperatures but that switch could bring high winds and a little more snow.

Most of January was warm in this region, with temperatures creeping up even into the 50s, but the weather turned wintry again the end of the month.

With that weather, the temperatures dropped, with lows near or lower than minus 20 degrees, including a low Sunday night of minus 19 and a frigid minus 25 Friday night.

Temperatures are expected to hit the 20s Tuesday and up into the 40s later in the week, although a chance of snow is expected to bring up to a half-inch a day Tuesday and Wednesday.The western winds bringing the warmer temperatures have led to National Weather Service issuing a high wind watch for Tuesday through Thursday from the Rocky Mountain Front through Blaine County.

The warning says winds could run 30 mph to 40 mph with gusts as high as 80 mph in some areas.

The Havre forecast calls for winds to pick up to near 20 mph tonight with gusts near 30 mph, and winds in the teens to possibly lower 30s through Wednesday, dropping off slightly by Thursday.

Forecasts call for a 10 percent to 30 percent chance of light snow through the week.

The forecasts are similar through the region, with winds expected to be slightly higher in speed to the west including in Liberty County, and slightly lower in speed to the east of Havre into Blaine County. The predictions are about the same in northern Chouteau County as for Havre.