Local weather takes turn to cold, snow

Driving might be treacherous this morning as a winter storm envelops Northwest Montana.

Abundant moisture is interacting with a strong Arctic front to put an abrupt end to the balmy weather of the past couple of days.

According to the National Weather Service, snow depths are expected to be 3 to 6 inches in valleys, 9 inches in the Glacier Park area and 10 to 16 inches in the mountains by this afternoon.

Winds are expected to be 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph in places such as Bad Rock Canyon. Wind chills may range from minus 5 to minus 20 this morning.

The cold front will drop temperatures to minus 6 tonight and minus 2 Sunday night, with Sunday’s high expected to reach 13 degrees.