First half of October was second warmest ever. That will end Friday

So long Indian summer. The first 16 days of October were second warmest ever in the area, according to the National Weather Service, but that will come to an end by Friday, as it becomes seasonably cool and snowy in the higher terrain over the weekend.

Marias Pass could see up to 6 inches of snow places like Logan Pass and the high terrain of Glacier could see a foot.

The valleys could even see a dusting of snow Saturday into Sunday.

The average high temperature at Glacier Park International Airport through the first 16 days of October was 69.8, second only to 1988, when it was 69.9. The average temperature was 52,4, again second to 1988, which was 53.8, according to figures provided by meteorologist Travis Booth.

The weather isn’t supposed to get that cold, really. Booth said the temperatures will be in the seasonal or slightly below seasonal range into next week, with highs in the low 40s and lows in the 20s, and possibly below that if the skies clear at night.

The first hard frost came to Columbia Falls just late last week, which is about a month later than usual.

The unsettled weather will continue into next week. The overall weather pattern will see a La Nina current in the Pacific Ocean, which sometimes can me a colder and snowier winter, particularly in higher terrain.

Last winter was a La Nina. It wasn’t particularly snowy until later in the spring, when the region saw temperatures colder and wetter than normal and localized flooding in June.