Arctic chill on the way

Weather cold enough to freeze garden hoses and the water in dog bowls is coming to Northwest Montana tonight, along with some snow.

The National Weather Service is forecasting a "bitterly cold" front to settle in over the region from 6 p.m. today through 6 p.m. Friday. Snow accummulations of 1-2 inches were expected by Friday morning in the Flathead and Mission Valleys.

Although today's high temperature should be in the 40s, temperatures are projected to drop steeply by midnight.

"This system will produce a relatively quick shot of snow ... followed by strong gusty northeast winds ushering a very cold air mass across the Continental Divide by Friday. Record-breaking cold temperatures and low wind chills are possible over the weekend," the winter weather advisory states.

Winds are expected to be 15 to 25 mph, with gusts up to 40 mph and wind-chill temperatures will be 10 below to zero after midnight tonight. The lowest wind-chill readings will be 5 below zero to 15 below on Friday night.

Things will warm up Saturday under partly cloudy skies, with highs reaching the mid-20s to lower 30s. On Saturday night, the temperature is expected to drop to 7 degrees.