National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Heat Wave Continues in the West; Critical Fire Weather Conditions in the High Plains

An anomalously early heat wave will continue to intensify and expand across the West and Southwest as the week progresses. Numerous daily and potentially monthly record highs are expected to be broken. Critical fire weather conditions will continue over the next couple of days across portions of the High Plains as gusty winds and dry conditions persist. Read More >

Hazardous Weather Conditions

Current conditions at

Essex US-2 MP 179.9 (MTESX)

Lat: 48.28176°NLon: 113.60657°WElev: 3848.0ft.

unknown precip

40°F

4°C

Humidity 79%
Wind Speed SW 1 MPH
Barometer NA
Dewpoint 34°F (1°C)
Visibility NA
Last update 18 Mar 02:15 AM MDT
Extended Forecast for

3 Miles W Essex MT

  • Overnight

    Overnight: A chance of rain and snow before 4am, then rain. Low around 35. Southwest wind around 16 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

    Low: 35 °F

    Rain/Snow

  • Wednesday

    Wednesday: Rain and snow before 5pm, then a chance of rain. High near 40. Southwest wind 15 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

    High: 40 °F

    Rain/Snow

  • Wednesday Night

    Wednesday Night: A chance of rain and snow before 1am, then a slight chance of rain between 1am and 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Southwest wind 15 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

    Low: 35 °F

    Chance Rain
    then Chance
    Rain/Snow

  • Thursday

    Thursday: A chance of rain before noon, then a chance of rain and snow between noon and 3pm, then a chance of rain after 3pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 45. West southwest wind 15 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

    High: 45 °F

    Chance Rain
    then Chance
    Rain/Snow

  • Thursday Night

    Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. Southwest wind 15 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph.

    Low: 38 °F

    Chance Rain

  • Friday

    Friday: Rain. High near 45. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

    High: 45 °F

    Rain

  • Friday Night

    Friday Night: Rain. Low around 36. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

    Low: 36 °F

    Rain

  • Saturday

    Saturday: Rain and snow likely before noon, then a chance of snow. Snow level 6300 feet lowering to 4800 feet in the afternoon . Mostly cloudy, with a high near 40.

    High: 40 °F

    Rain/Snow
    Likely then
    Chance Snow

  • Saturday Night

    Saturday Night: A chance of snow before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 23. Breezy.

    Low: 23 °F

    Chance Snow
    and Breezy
    then Mostly
    Clear

Detailed Forecast

Overnight
A chance of rain and snow before 4am, then rain. Low around 35. Southwest wind around 16 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Wednesday
Rain and snow before 5pm, then a chance of rain. High near 40. Southwest wind 15 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Wednesday Night
A chance of rain and snow before 1am, then a slight chance of rain between 1am and 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Southwest wind 15 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Thursday
A chance of rain before noon, then a chance of rain and snow between noon and 3pm, then a chance of rain after 3pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 45. West southwest wind 15 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Thursday Night
A 40 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. Southwest wind 15 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph.
Friday
Rain. High near 45. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Friday Night
Rain. Low around 36. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Saturday
Rain and snow likely before noon, then a chance of snow. Snow level 6300 feet lowering to 4800 feet in the afternoon . Mostly cloudy, with a high near 40.
Saturday Night
A chance of snow before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 23. Breezy.
Sunday
A slight chance of snow. Mostly sunny, with a high near 39.
Sunday Night
A slight chance of snow. Partly cloudy, with a low around 24.
Monday
A slight chance of snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 42.
Monday Night
A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28.
Tuesday
Rain and snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 42.
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Forecast Area
Tiles ©ESRI

ABOUT THIS FORECAST

 
Point Forecast:
3 Miles W Essex MT
 48.28°N 113.69°W (Elev. 4800 ft)
Last Update:
2:01 am MDT Mar 18, 2026
Forecast Valid:
2am MDT Mar 18, 2026-6pm MDT Mar 24, 2026
 
Forecast Discussion
 
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Additional Resources

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Hourly Weather Forecast

National Digital Forecast Database

National Digital Forecast Database Maximum Temperature Forecast

High Temperature

National Digital Forecast Database Weather Element Forecast

Chance of Precipitation