A year after record high, valley has record low

The thermometer plunged to 23 degrees in the Flathead Valley this morning, setting a record low for Sept. 12.

The predicted hard freeze broke the low-temperature record of 24 degrees that was established in 2012.

One year ago, the weather was on the other end of the spectrum: On Sept. 12, 2013, the Flathead Valley had a record high temperature of 90 degrees.

Elsewhere in Western Montana this morning, Missoula’s 25 degrees was well below the preview record of 28 in 1988 and Butte’s 19 degrees was barely above the Sept. 12 record of 18 degrees.

Warmer weather is on the way: The National Weather Service forecast through Wednesday calls for sunny skies and daily high temperatures in the upper 60s and 70s.

Nighttime low temperatures will range from the high 30s to low 40s.