An Arctic system hitting the Powell area has the entire state looking to pull mittens and long johns out of storage this week.

“Everyone is in the same boat,” said Ralph Estell, a Riverton-based meteorologist with National Weather Service.

Powell may be one of the best places to be in the region this week, as winter weather advisories are forecast for Cody, Billings and the southern portion of the state due to the potential of 5 or more inches of snow.

Once the clouds clear from the front, the temperatures will drop quickly, Estell said.

“The clouds act like a blanket,” he said, adding that, “It will definitely be cold and snowy near Powell, especially close to mountains. Dress warm.”

The entire Big Horn Basin has a chance of record lows, but Estell said Powell doesn’t actually keep a history of record lows due to a lack of a qualifying weather station. So even if it gets snot-freezing cold, local residents won’t be able to brag about a record in town.

Laramie could be the worst place to be, Estell said, with a 90 percent chance of snow through Wednesday, temperatures as low as minus 12 F and wind gusts of 30 mph.

Powell, by comparison, will be an oasis, with temperatures dropping to just below zero today (Tuesday). Only 1-2 inches of snow accumulation was expected through Monday night.

Estell wasn’t all gloom and doom. “It looks like pretty nice weather after Wednesday,” he said, “with a high of 44 degrees on Saturday.”