August weekend: cold, snow, rain

Mother Nature is ushering in a foretaste of winter weather, with snow expected above 6,500 feet in Glacier National Park this weekend.

An unseasonably cold and very wet weather system will squash outdoor and backcountry recreation plans through Sunday.

The National Weather Service said temperatures in many spots will be 20 degrees below normal with widespread moderate to heavy valley rain and windy conditions.

“Snow accumulations are expected to be light at Logan Pass, but confidence is increasing that higher elevations could see several inches or more through Saturday morning,” a Weather Service advisory noted. “Anyone with plans to hike or travel throughout the higher terrain of Western Montana should prepare for raw, winter-like conditions.”

There’s a 100 percent chance of rain for the Kalispell area today, decreasing to 40 percent tonight and Sunday. Thunderstorms are also possible.

A flash flood watch, along with a lake wind advisory, were in effect Friday night for portions of Northwest Montana.

The Weather Service said prolonged period of moderate to heavy rainfall across the region could keep flooding threats in effect.

“Embedded thunderstorms could produce very heavy downpours in some locations that may result in flash-flood conditions, especially in wildfire burn scar areas,” the advisory said.

Cold, rain and snow expected at higher elevations prompted a special warning for hikers at elevations above 5,000 feet. The Weather Service urged people to be prepared for very cold rain “which when combined with winds of 10 to 20 mph and air temperatures in the 30s and 40s could heighten hypothermia concerns.”