First snowfall of season to blanket Flathead Valley on Tuesday

The season’s first winter weather advisory was issued Monday for parts of Northwest Montana as the region enters a stretch of unseasonably cold and snowy days.

Accumulating snowfall is likely for much of area beginning Tuesday afternoon and evening in the Flathead Valley, before the storm spreads south into Missoula and Bozeman.

Up to 2 inches of snow is possible in the valleys by Wednesday. Overnight lows will dip into the teens, with highs in the low 30s. Wind gusts could reach 22 mph Tuesday night.

Mountain passes could see 4-8 inches of accumulation, with difficult driving conditions likely on Marias Pass south of Glacier National Park as the arctic front infiltrates Northwest Montana.

A winter storm warning was issued for East Glacier Park, Kiowa, Babb, Saint Mary, Marias Pass, Logan Pass and East Glacier Park.

Another round of winter weather moves in Thursday through Saturday, bringing potentially sustained and impactful snowfall rates, and continued below normal temperatures, the Weather Service warned.

“The cold air isn't going anywhere through the upcoming weekend,” the Weather Service’s Monday forecast discussion stated.

High temperatures will hover in the low to mid-30s, with lows in the upper single digits to the mid-teens.