Montana News Headlines: Back to “Winter” This Weekend

It's out of the frying pan and back into the freezer for Montana this weekend, as National Weather Service forecasters are warning of a cold, rainy weekend, and even the possibility of high country snow.

After one more day of mild weather today, showers and thunderstorms will develop, although probably not with the severity of the storms that hit eastern parts of the state earlier this week.

The National Weather Service is warning of possible severe storms along a wide line from Hamilton east to Lewistown, and as far south as the Gallatin and Billings.

Rainfall is expected to be persistent, with as much as half an inch of precipitation falling in some areas. And this may seem hard to believe, but there are actually winter storm warnings up for the East Glacier region.

     ❄️ -Accumulating snow is possible down to about 5,000 to 6,000 feet.

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Winter Storm Warning for East Glacier

The weather is prompting park officials to prepare for possible temporary closures of the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

As I reported Monday, the road just reopened for the season this week.

The park says the forecast is for a heavy rain event, with up to 2 to 4 inches of rain from Friday evening into Sunday. That could lead to rock and debris slides along the alpine section of the highway, and that's certainly something we've seen with similar June storms in the past.

     Additionally, Logan Pass could see up to a foot of snow, and up to 4 inches as low as 4,000 feet in elevation.

 Warm water brings fishing restrictions to Yellowstone

In contrast, Yellowstone National Park is implementing some fishing closures because of rising river temperatures and low water flows, which are more typical later in the summer.

The "hoot owl" closures, which prevent fishing after 2 pm, have been ordered for the Madison River, the Firehole River, and the Gibbon River and all their tributaries.

     🎣 That order could be lifted if river temperatures drop with cooler weather this weekend.

No sign of missing hiker

Red Lodge search teams were flown to the far side of East Rosebud Creek yesterday, as they continue to look for a hiker who vanished while trying to cross the raging stream below Rimrock Lake two weeks ago.

Red Lodge Fire and Rescue says while the water had dropped somewhat, visibility remains problematic. Video from one of the searchers shows the dangerous conditions.

     They could also find no trace of the hiker south of the cascades, but plan to keep checking as water levels drop.

Stubborn fire still active

Fire activity picked up in the warmer, and windy weather yesterday on the stubborn Jericho Mountain Fire, which has now burned 188-acres south of MacDonald Pass. Crews are continuing to build control lines, trying to limit its spread to the east.

Goodbye to this college sports foe

In sports, Ace Sauerwein has more details on the Big Sky Conference change, which will impact the 'Cats and the Griz.