It's time to pull out the ice scraper and shovel and put away the garden hose.

The first winter storm of the season is on target to hit Montana this weekend, and accumulating snowfall is likely across the state.

The recent stretch of pleasant fall weather comes to a jarring halt Saturday morning as a low-pressure system moves inland off the Pacific Northwest coast and clashes with a cold Canadian airmass, the National Weather Service in Missoula warned. The result will be below freezing temperatures and snowfall down to the valley floors.

Southwest Montana has the best chance of accumulating snow, with more than 3 inches possible in Butte and around Georgetown Lake. Mountain passes in this area could see 6 to 10 inches of snow.

Western Montana will see a mixture of rain changing over to snow by Sunday morning as lows drop into the 20s in the Flathead Valley. Commuters should be wary of slick road conditions during this period.

The mountains of Glacier National Park could see over 6 inches of snow by Monday morning.

"If you're going to be in the backcountry, [expect] cold, raw conditions and prepare for at least several inches of snow if you're at high enough elevation," a Weather Service briefing stated.

Gusting winds will be an issue on Flathead Lake, where damage to docks is possible from Yellow Bay south and west to Big Arm and the Narrows, the Weather Service advised. The lake level on Thursday was about half of a foot below full pool with the seasonal drawdown underway.

The cold air is expected to linger into next week with temperatures running 5 to 8 degrees below normal on Monday.

Long-range forecasts show a return to warmer and drier conditions.