Advisory Archive
The existing ridge of high pressure that delivered sunny skies and nice weather will remain over southwest Montana through the early part of today. Currently, skies are mostly clear, mountain temperatures are in the mid to upper teens and winds are light out of the W-SW at 5-15 mph.
Today, mountain temperatures will rise into the low forties and winds will gradually increase out of the W-SW. We will begin to see increasing clouds and stronger winds later in the day as an approaching storm system moves into the area. This storm system will deliver scattered snow showers by late this afternoon, but will intensify this evening bringing 6-8 inches of new snow to the mountains by tomorrow morning.
Over the past 24 hours, a fast moving storm system dropped another 4-6 inches of snow over the mountains of our advisory area. This storm was accompanied by strong S-SW winds which blew 20-30 mph during the storm and gusted into the 40's with the frontal passage. Cold air moved in behind this storm producing some of the coldest temperatures we have felt in a weeks. Currently, mountain temperatures are ranging from 5-10 degrees F and winds are blowing at 5-15 mph out of the W-SW. Today, temperatures will struggle into the low thirties under mostly cloudy skies and we could see a few isolated snow showers in the mountains. Another storm system will be moving into southwest Montana starting Monday night.
Yesterday's blue sky and gorgeous weather has been replaced by yet another storm system. Overnight, 3-5 inches of new snow has accumulated in the mountains throughout our advisory area and winds have been blowing 10-20 mph out of the W-SW. Currently temperatures are in the mid to high teens, but will rise into the low thirties by this afternoon. Today, we will see lingering snow showers with an additional 1-2 inches of accumulation and winds will remain out of the W-SW at 10-20 mph with stronger gusts felt along the ridgetops.
Since yesterday 5 inches of snow fell in the northern Gallatin Range, and 2-3 inches fell in the southern Madison Range and the mountains near West Yellowstone. All other areas received a trace of new snow. This morning temperatures were in the low teens F with NW and W winds blowing 10-15 mph. Today temperatures will rise into the upper 20s F and winds will shift to the SW and increase this afternoon. A fast moving storm hitting the west coast this morning will arrive this evening and deposit 2-3 inches of snow in the southern half of the advisory area and 1-2 inches in the northern half.
Since yesterday morning most areas south of Bozeman received a trace to 1 inch of snow and the Bridger Range remained dry. This morning temperatures were in the mid to low teens F with N and NW winds blowing 5-15 mph. Today will be mostly cloudy as more moisture moves northward into the advisory area from Idaho and Wyoming. Temperatures will rise to the mid 20s F and winds will blow 5-15 mph from the N. Most snowfall will occur during the day with 3-5 inches falling in the Madison and Gallatin Ranges and the mountains near Cooke City, 2-3 inches in the mountains near West Yellowstone, and 1-2 inches in the Bridger Range.
The Bridger Range, northern Gallatin Range and mountains around Big Sky got 13-15 inches of creamy snow since yesterday morning. The southern Madison Range picked up another 5-6 inches with Cooke City getting 8 inches more. Winds have been blowing west to southwest and are currently reading 20-30 mph, a bit less than yesterday morning. Mountain temperatures are currently in the low to mid teens under cloudy skies. Today will remain cloudy as westerly winds lessen to 15-20 mph. Cooke City may get 2-3 inches tonight while other mountains should only see a trace to an inch by morning.
A strong, wet, unstable Pacific storm has already dropped 10-12 inches of snow in the southern mountains. The Big Sky area to the Bridger Range just started to get hit and has one to two inches of snow at 6 a.m. West to southwest winds ripped across all elevations yesterday with speeds averaging 20-30 with gusts reaching the 60s. Winds will decrease today, but still blow 20-25 mph. By tomorrow morning snowfall will measure 8-12 inches in the north with possibly 16 inches in the south.
Since yesterday afternoon winds have increased and clouds have moved into our area ahead of a strong pacific storm system. This morning, winds have been blowing consistently at 20-40 mph out of the W-SW, with gusts reaching 60 mph in the Bridger Range. Temperatures are on the mild side with lows in the upper twenties to mid thirties F. Today, winds will remain strong out of the W-SW and mountain temperatures will rise into the mid to upper forties F. Precipitation will move into our area starting later tonight and we should see 3-5 inches of snow above 7,000 ft by tomorrow morning.
A brief ridge of high pressure has brought spring like conditions to southwest Montana. Currently, mountain temperatures are ranging from the upper teens to the high twenties and winds are blowing out of the W-NW at 5-15 mph, with an exception of the Bridger Ridge where winds are blowing 20-25 mph out of the W. Today, temperatures will warm rapidly into the mid to high forties and winds will remain out of the W at 5-15 mph. We should start to see increasing clouds and stronger ridgetop winds by this evening as the next storm system approaches from the west.
Wet Snow Avalanche Danger
Today's weather will start out chilly, but will warm rapidly under mostly sunny skies and calm conditions. Wet snow avalanches will become a concern as the new snow heats up under the intense rays of the sun (photo). By this afternoon the wet snow avalanche danger could rise to CONSIDERABLE on all sun exposed slopes.
Since yesterday morning most areas received an additional trace of snow, and skies began clearing overnight. This morning temperatures dropped into the mid teens F with winds blowing 10-25 mph from the NW. Today will be mostly sunny with high temperatures in the low to mid 30s F. Winds will decrease to 10-15 mph and slowly shift to the W. No more snow will fall this weekend, but it should return by Monday evening and the rest of next week looks promising.
Wet Snow Avalanche Danger
Today's weather will start quite cold but warm rapidly under mostly sunny skies and calm winds. Wet snow avalanches will be limited, but south facing slopes with new snow sitting on a hard ice crust may heat enough for a few loose, wet snow slides (photo). By afternoon the wet snow avalanche danger should rise to MODERATE on all sun exposed slopes.