🚨 HIGH WIND WATCH - Montana Weather 3/15 - Morning

Good morning. Montana. I'm Michael Mosby. Step outside and you'll feel it. Two degrees. That bite in the air that makes your nose hairs freeze instantly. We picked up eight-tenths of an inch of snow overnight, but here's the twist — this Arctic grip is about to crack wide open. Central Montana takes the prize for coldest spot, minus 11 degrees this morning. Wind chills scraping minus -5 degrees around midday. Eastern Montana woke up to 11 degrees, feeling like -5 degrees early on. Western Montana? Practically balmy at 16 degrees. Today stays quiet but cold, highs climb to 27 degrees across Eastern and Central Montana. Western Montana pushes near 39 degrees, mostly sunny skies statewide, with just a few passing clouds. As the sun sets. Tonight, the script flips, lows drop to 14 degrees in the east, 15 degrees central. And 28 degrees out west, but clouds thicken after sunset. Western Montana sees snow developing after 9 P.M., mountains could pick up half an inch. Monday's where it gets wild, highs jump to 45 degrees in the east, 48 degrees central. And 50 degrees out west, with that's a 20-plus degree swing from today. Mixed precipitation arrives — rain and snow statewide, especially in the mountains. Winds pick up too, with gusts to 33 miles an hour in Central Montana. Looking ahead. Looking at the week ahead. Tuesday through Saturday brings a remarkable warm-up, while highs soar into the 60s and 70s statewide. We're talking 15 degrees above normal for mid-March, with wednesday hits 72 degrees in the east. Thursday could touch 75 degrees, friday and Saturday stay in the mid to upper 70s. The catch? Strong winds return Monday night through Tuesday, high wind watches are posted for much of North Central Montana. Gusts could hit 60 miles an hour in the foothills. Charge your phone before heading out, while this cold drains batteries fast. See you this afternoon.