Raw weather to hit today

Raw, wintry conditions are expected to hit Northwest Montana Tuesday afternoon, which could make for a dicey evening commute.

Snow levels will start out around 5,000 feet on Tuesday morning. Rain in the valley could be moderate to heavy at times, the National Weather Service in Missoula stated in its forecast discussion Monday.

Cold air will move across Marias Pass by late Tuesday morning and will enter the Flathead Valley through Badrock Canyon in the afternoon. This will usher in gusty winds and lower snow levels to the valley floor.

The heaviest snowfall accumulations are expected in the Glacier Park region for elevations above 4,500 feet, with Marias Pass seeing 8 to 12 inches. Only an inch of snow is likely for the valleys, but the quickly cooling temperatures could lead to dangerously slick driving conditions Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, the Weather Service warned.

Cold temperatures settle in for the remainder of the week, with lows in the teens and single digits possible Thursday morning.