Winter hits the region, more on the way

Winter weather returned to the region with a vengeance Monday, with plummeting temperatures and heavy snow at times.

Snow is expected to continue through Wednesday, with unseasonably cold temperatures expected at least through Saturday.

At its recording station at the Havre City-County Airport, National Weather Service reported an inch of snow falling through midnight with the low hitting minus 1 degrees.

A Weather Service post updated at 9:03 p.m. Monday said the next disturbance to bring a period of more widespread snow will cross the area this morning with snow accumulation of 2 inches or more focused across eastern portions of central and southwest Montana. A stronger weather disturbance with deeper moisture is expected to bring a round of locally moderate snowfall amounts to the area tonight and Wednesday, with this part of north-central Montana listed as having a 60 percent to 70 percent chance of more than 2 inches of snow falling.

A winter weather advisory, in effect for the region through 9 p.m. Wednesday, warns that people should plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the Tuesday commutes, it said. People should slow down and use caution while traveling. The latest road conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1 or visiting the Montana Department of Transportation Road Report website.

The forecast does not call for more snow through the weekend, but temperatures are expected to drop to near or below zero for lows through Saturday night, with Harlem expected to hit minus 7 Thursday.

Highs are expected in the teens through Thursday, then warming into the 20s with lows in the single digits through Sunday.