Advisory Archive
In the last 24 hours the Bridger Range picked up 6 inches of snow with Carrot Basin in the southern Madisons showing 9 inches; other areas are reading 3-4 inches. I expect all these numbers to steadily climb today and by tomorrow morning they'll be an additional 8-12 inches with the Bridgers poised to get more (I know...vague, but exciting nonetheless). Winds are west to northwest at 10-20 mph and will strengthen to 20-30 later mph today. Mountain temperatures will plummet from their current readings of 20F to 5 below zero tonight. Snow, cold and wind-what more can an avalanche forecaster ask for?
Since January 1st, a moist pacific storm system has dumped over a foot of snow in the mountains around Cooke City and West Yellowstone while the northern Madison, Gallatin and Bridger Ranges pick up between two to four inches. No new snow has fallen over the forecast area in the past 24 hours.
Today, warm weather and mostly sunny skies will prevail over southwest Montana. Winds will start light out of the west at 10-15 mph, increasing later in the day to 15-20 mph along the ridgetops. Temperatures will remain above average with daytime highs reaching the upper thirties and nighttime lows dipping into the twenties. A cold winter storm system will begin to impact our area late tonight and will remain over the region into Wednesday, delivering colder temperatures and measurable precipitation.
Since yesterday morning 2 inches of snow fell in Taylor Fork and the Bridgers while everywhere else got a trace to 1 inch. Winds have calmed significantly and are currently blowing out of the west at 5-15 mph with mountain temperatures in the high teens. Today we'll see mostly cloudy skies, light westerly winds and temperatures reaching the mid 20's. No snowfall is expected the next few days either.
In the past 24 hours the mountains near West Yellowstone and Cooke City received 4-6 inches of snow, mountains near Big Sky received 1-3 inches, and the mountains near Bozeman received a trace to 2 inches. Temperatures have been relatively warm, and the Bridger Bowl Ski Patrol reported freezing rain yesterday morning. This morning at 4 a.m. mountain temperatures were near 20 degrees F and will warm to almost 30 degrees F today. Last night winds increased into the 30's but were blowing 10-20 mph this morning from the W. Today winds will continue blowing from the W bringing some snow flurries with only 1 inch of snow accumulating by tomorrow morning.
2010 has started with a bang. Since yesterday morning the mountains near West Yellowstone and Cooke City received 6-8 inches of snow, the mountains near Big Sky received 3-6 inches, and the mountains near Bozeman got 3 inches. This morning temperatures are in the teens F with ridgetop winds blowing 10-20 mph from the W and SW. Today temperatures will climb to near 20 degrees F and winds will remain the same but increase this afternoon as snowfall returns. By tomorrow morning the mountains near West Yellowstone will get 4-6 inches of snow, the mountains near Cooke City and Big Sky will get 2-4 inches, and the mountains near Bozeman will receive 1-3 inches.
In the past 24 hours most areas received about 3 inches of snow with slightly less falling in the Bridger Range. This morning temperatures were near 10 degrees F, and ridgetop winds were blowing 10-30 mph generally from the west. These winds have been confined to ridgetops with much calmer winds blowing at lower elevations. Today, temperatures will reach the mid teens F, and this afternoon winds increase, blowing 20-30 mph from the WSW. Snowfall will return tonight with 5-7 inches accumulating by tomorrow morning in the mountains near Big Sky, West Yellowstone, and Cooke City while the mountains near Bozeman will receive 2-4 inches. In all areas expect strong winds with this snowfall.
The mountains around West Yellowstone and Cooke City received an inch of snow last night while a trace dusted the mountains to Big Sky. Winds are blowing west to southwest at 15-20 mph with temperatures near 10F. Under cloudy skies the southern mountains will get another inch as temperatures warm only a few degrees and wind speeds remain the same. Unfortunately, the disturbances rolling through are low energy, pathetic systems.
The last two days have been stunning with lots of sun, mountain temperatures in the high teens and calm winds. Today a small disturbance will bring increasing clouds, winds at 15-20 mph out of the southwest and temperatures near 20F. There's not much moisture or energy associated with this system and I only expect a trace of snow near West Yellowstone by tomorrow morning.
A split jet stream has produced a large high pressure system that has now encompassed the entire state of Montana. High pressure systems involve large masses of air that rotate clockwise (in the northern hemisphere) and result in sinking air and stable conditions. High pressure traps cold air in the valleys and keeps warmer air aloft making for striking temperature inversions. This trapped cold air can produce dense valley fog and even light precipitation in the valleys as moisture is condensed out of the air.
Southwest Montana will remain under high pressure for at least the next 24 hours making for clear skies and calm conditions. Winds will be light along the ridgetops at 5-10 mph out of the S-SE. Valley temperatures will remain cold with lows in the single digits and highs around twenty. In the mountains, temperatures will feel almost tropical with highs in the upper twenties to low thirties and lows around ten degrees. It looks like we will be moving into an unsettled weather pattern starting Wednesday and continuing into the latter part of the week.
