Rain, snow, wind in store for Thanksgiving weekend

Thanksgiving weekend will bring a mixed-bag of rain, snow and storms to Northwest Montana.

The National Weather Service projects “strong and potentially damaging winds” moving into the area Thursday night with speeds of 25 to 35 miles per hour, peaking between 5 p.m. and midnight. Some gusts could reach 60 miles per hour or more.

Thursday night will also bring rain or a wintry mix for elevations below 4,000 feet, and “high-intensity snow and blowing snow” in the mountains, with Lolo Pass and Lost Trail passes being very highly affected.

The agency expects conditions to calm Friday through Sunday morning, projecting cold and cloudy conditions, and some isolated rain and snow showers.

But a cold front moving in Sunday night will change rain into all snow for mountain passes and bring snow levels closer to the valley floors. Together, these conditions could prove hazardous for Thanksgiving travelers and Monday morning commuters.

The Flathead Valley could escape the worst of this weather. The Weather Service sees Thanksgiving high temperatures in the 50s, but with rain and wind for Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls. A high wind watch has been issued for Thursday night.

Future temperatures look set to drop, but stay within the 30s and 40s over the next week. The area will face at least a chance of rain or snow during this time.