The Missoula Daily Snow 
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Monday October 8th 2012 1:40pm MDT
Some areas saw a nice coating of snow last week and it feels good to be talking about winter again. Check back in a few weeks when I'll start posting regular updates. Think snow!
Eric
Sunday April 15th 2012 8:31am MDT
Good morning Missoula!
On closing day at Snowbowl, we have some unsettled spring weather with likely trace accumulations of snow. The snow will likely be dry at the 7500 foot summit of Snowbowl, but become dense quickly the lower in elevation you go due to usual springtime warm temperatures.
I wish I had more exciting news to talk about, but looks like we will see a combination of spring snow funkiness, mid elevation (around 6000 feet) rain and mostly cloudy skies. That is the thing with dynamic spring weather; you can get epic, blow your doors powder systems that trump any powder day all winter, or you can get reasons to dust off the bike early.
Earlier in the week, we were discussing the systems hitting Big Sky MT and Fernie BC. As predicted earlier, these systems seem to have lost a lot of their oomph (compared to much earlier in the week when they looked promising) with trace to 2 inch accumulations in both of these regions. In my experience, it is not uncommon for models to overestimate precipitation for systems during unsettled spring weather when they are predicting 3 to 5 days out. Ahh winter... how I miss your relative predictability... you are cold, and when there is moisture you drop dry fluffy snow.
In the meantime, keep enjoying our warm spring weather. We will see intermittent periods of rain and sun throughout the week with valley daytime temps in the high 50s.
Thursday April 12th 2012 3:38pm MDT
Still not a whole lot of exciting things to talk about for the Missoula area, unfortunately. There is some precipitation in the forecast as snow, but it does not look like much and the rain/snow line looks to be a bit high in elevation. The cloudy days and nights are also putting the kibosh on any opportunities for corn skiing. I think that this trend of mild precipitation, cloudiness, and warm temperatures will continue through Sunday.
Not an ideal way to send off the closing of the lifts, but we have had an average year in a lot of regions around Montana; and in Montana, average seasonal snowfall is a GOOD SEASON. It has been a slow March and even slower April, but all in all, we still did alright compared to other regions of the North American Rockies. I must say I haven't gotten so many face shots in a January and February since I was a Wasatch local.
Jackson and Big Sky regions look like they could pick up some decent snowfall, from 8 to 12 inches, possibly more at higher elevations, from Friday and Saturday into Sunday. If you have friends that you can stay with or money to spend on lodging, this might be worth checking out for some late season freshies.
I am downgrading the storm hitting Fernie a bit. Looks like they will get some snowfall, but temps look like they will be more spring like than winter like. Models are also showing less snowfall for Fernie than was predicted earlier.
In the meantime, get out and enjoy the wonderful, warm spring we have been having! Even with the lack of late season powder days, I have yet to hear anyone complain about the spring weather after our usual, long Montana winter.
Tuesday April 10th 2012 9:29pm MDT
Hello fellow Montana Storm Riders!
\r\nWe will be getting some precipitation tomorrow, with the snow line being fairly high. Does not look like a good day for skiing, in fact there is a fair chance for considerable rain accumulation and even thunderstorms. Thursday, temps cool off a bit but the snow line looks like it will not drop much below 6000 feet, which means rain in the parking lot.
\r\nIf the powder hound within will not lay to rest, a good bet would be the storm on tap for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday for Fernie, BC. Looks like a respectable storm with cold, wintertime temps. Although it is still a bit far away to predict with a confident degree of accuracy, I estimate that they could get two feet or more by Sunday. Combined with late season rates on lodging and lift tickets, I would give this roadtrip a definite two thumbs up for anyone willing to make the trek.
\r\n
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