Record lows set in Kalispell, elsewhere

Record lows were set Saturday morning as the mercury dipped to 5 degrees in the Kalispell area, shattering the previous low for Oct. 10 of 16 degrees set in 1987.

"It's a little abnormal, especially since the records we broke we really slaughtered," said Jeff Kitsmiller, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. "It's about two weeks earlier then we've ever really seen this strong of an arctic front. It's definitely uncommon."

Forecasts predicted temperatures into this morning could fall as low as 4 degrees, again breaking the 1987 record of 20 degrees.

Northwest Montana from Eureka to Anaconda is under a wind-chill advisory until 10 a.m. today. Winds already were gusting up to 15 mph Saturday evening and were expected to reach 25 mph in Bad Rock Canyon, making temperatures feel between minus 10 and minus 20 degrees.

"If anyone has to go outside, they should make sure to limit their time there... and keep all of their skin covered," Kitsmiller said. "Try not to be outside if you don't have to; most of us aren't acclimated yet."

Cold, dry air and cloudless skies combined with an arctic cold front have caused temperatures to fall well below average for the second straight day.

"It's a really strong arctic cold front that came from the east, over the [Continental] Divide," Kitsmiller said. "Then the skies cleared out last night and the dry air mass allows temperatures to seriously drop."

Temperatures are expected to climb after Monday, with lows in the 30s Tuesday and highs in the 50s Wednesday. The area could see freezing rain Tuesday night, Kitsmiller said.

"We'll start to see big improvements by the middle of the week, temperature-wise," he said.

In Missoula, temperatures Saturday of 10 degrees broke the 1973 record of 20 degrees.

School marching bands were pulled from the University of Montana's homecoming parade under threat of frigid weather Saturday.

John Combs, fine arts director for Missoula County Public Schools, says it was difficult to yank hundreds of students from the parade lineup.

But the alternative - kids possibly slipping on ice or getting sick - proved too great to ignore.

Further east, temperatures in the Great Falls area were forecast to dip as low as 5 degrees, with meteorologists predicting the worst would be over late today.

The National Weather Service predicted freezing temperatures and snow flurries through today for most of eastern Montana and northern Wyoming.

In Billings, a high of 25 degrees with a 20 percent chance of snow was forecast.