Arctic express due Wednesday night

The Daily Inter Lake

A chill is on the way.

National Weather Service forecasters predicted Monday that severe cold should arrive in the Flathead Valley on Wednesday night with the mercury diving to 10 to 18 degrees below zero.

The cold snap may last four or five days.

According to a weather service statement, "an energetic cold front followed by cold arctic air will move through the area Wednesday. Snow, gusty winds and very cold temperatures will accompany this arctic blast. Temperatures will drop dramatically."

By Thursday night, valley temperatures are expected to dip to as low as 21 degrees below zero. Forecasters expect a high Thursday of just 3 below to 4 above zero.

Temperatures should begin to slowly moderate on Friday when forecasters expect highs of 1 below to 7 above and lows Friday night of 13 below to 1 above zero.

The Saturday forecast calls for partly cloudy skies with lows of 10 below to 10 above zero. Forecasters say Sunday will bring more relief with highs of 15 to 20 and lows of 7 below to 13 above zero.