Snow hits area after hot weekend

A forecast of a return of wintry weather has come through in spades with heavy snow falling in the area this morning and more in the forecast.

That followed temperatures creeping up into the 70s and 80s over the weekend.

The National Weather Service forecast for heavy, wet snow through Friday predicts the heaviest accumulations along the Continental Divide and Rocky Mountain Front, but snow is predicted across Liberty, Chouteau, Hill and Blaine counties, with Liberty County included in a winter weather advisory.

That advisory, that runs through 9 a.m. Friday, predicts 3 inches to 7 inches of snow accumulating, causing slippery and hazardous conditions on roads and, especially, on bridges and overpasses.

The advisory also warns that tree or power line damage is possible.

The forecast in Liberty County predicts a chance of snow and rain through Friday night and chances of rain and fog, through Wednesday, with a slight chance of rain and snow included Saturday,

Temperatures are expected to be in the 30s for highs Friday, 40s Saturday and 50s Sunday through Tuesday and a forecast high of 60 Wednesday.

The specific forecast for the Chester area predicts 1 inch to 3 inches of new snow accumulation today, up to an inch tonight, and half an inch Friday and Friday night.

The snowfall this morning in Havre likely already had surpassed the forecast, which predicted rain before noon and showers and possible thunderstorms this afternoon with a chance of less than a half inch of new snow accumulation tonight.

The forecast called for rain and snow Friday with the precipitation becoming all rain by 3 p.m. and a half inch of new snow accumulation possible. The forecast predicted more chances of rain and snow Saturday and rain and thunderstorms through Wednesday.

Temperatures predicted were close to the forecast for Chester.

The forecast for Big Sandy was similar to Havre’s, with a chance of rain and snow through Saturday morning and rain and thunderstorms through Wednesday, with slightly higher temperatures predicted over the weekend, 50s Saturday, Sunday and Monday and 60s Tuesday and Wednesday.

The forecast in Blaine County also is similar, although less snow is predicted, with up to about a half-inch accumulation Friday predicted. Highs are expected to be back in the 40s Friday and Saturday, 50s Sunday and back into the 60s by Monday.