Cold front to bring wind switch

The National Weather Service is forecasting a chilly weekend, with a wind advisory in effect through tonight as an Arctic cold front ushers in powerful east-to-west winds and freezing overnight temperatures.

Winds are expected to pick up to 31 to 36 miles per hour by this afternoon, gusting as high as 50 miles per hour from the east and northwest.

In Bad Rock Canyon, sustained winds as high as 40 miles per hour are predicted. The wind will continue blowing in the range of 20 to 30 miles per hour overnight, dying down throughout the day Sunday.

Ryan Leach, a meteorologist at the Weather Service office in Missoula, noted the wind direction is an unusual one, but added that east-to-west polar systems aren’t unprecedented here and normally are seen every one or two years in Northwest Montana.

Snow could fall at elevations as low at 4,500 feet, with most accumulation on eastern slopes — particularly in and around Glacier National Park. Marias Pass could see 1 to 2 inches beginning this morning.

For the Kalispell area, a forecasted high near 53 degrees today is expected to dip below freezing overnight, followed by a high temperature of 54 on Sunday and an overnight low of 28.

Reporter Samuel Wilson may be reached at 758-4407 or by email at swilson@dailyinterlake.com.