Montana Daily Snow
By Bob Ambrose, Forecaster Posted 7 years ago February 23, 2017
Colder with snow showers through the weekend – except for heavy snow at Red Lodge
Summary
The last 48 hours of “warm” storms into Wednesday afternoon produced some nice snow totals….13” at Lookout, 12” Whitefish, 10” Snowbowl, 8” Big Sky, and 7” at Bridger and Lost Trail. Wednesday night a Canadian cold front will invade bringing temps back to below normal with lighter winds but with persistent snow showers with daily accumulations of 1-2” possible through the upcoming weekend for both sides of the Divide. Red Lodge Mountain, the most eastern of Montana’s resorts will be the recipient of an upper level low moving over northern Wyoming and colliding with the Canadian cold front that looks to produce up to a foot or more of cold smoke powder.
Short Term Forecast
West of the Divide:
Wednesday night a Canadian cold front will push in from the Northwest bringing colder temps and sporadic snow showers to all areas West of the Divide. Daytime mountain temps will generally be in the upper teens to low 20’s. Winds will be much less than the last few days in the 5-10mph range. The cold air aloft will bring snow showers to the forecast each day through Saturday, especially during the afternoon hours when convection could cause heavier snow bursts. Daily accumulations of 1-2” are probable at most areas, especially at Whitefish and along the Idaho border. Some areas to the very south especially Lost Trail could pick up a little more (3-5”) on Thursday into Thursday night.
East of the Divide:
Cold Canadian air will rapidly push in from the Northwest on Wednesday night and bring increased snow showers and daytime temps back into the upper teens to low 20’s. These snow showers will linger through Saturday across the region with a few inches possible each day in the Southwest with perhaps a little more at Bridger on Thursday. The Northwest flow will be less windy but much colder than over the last week and a half. Totals through Saturday look to be around 6-8” at Bridger and Big Sky with 4-6” at Showdown and perhaps Teton Pass Resort. Red Lodge Mountain, way out east on the Beartooth Front looks like the sole recipient (in Montana that is) of an upper level low that will collide with the aforementioned cold front tonight and last thru Thursday night that could drop more than 12” there by Friday morning. Winter Storm Warnings have been issued for the area around Red Lodge. Montana powder chasers, Red Lodge is your best bet over the next 2 days.
Extended Forecast
West of the Divide:
Sunday looks to be a carbon copy of Saturday with off and on snow showers, light winds, and daytime temps in the upper teens and twenties. On Sunday night another stronger system moves into the region West of the Continental Divide with increasing light snow with perhaps moderate accumulations by end of day on Monday. Tuesday into Thursday the Northwest flow will continue to keep temps below average and usher in more unsettled weather in the form of mainly snow showers. It looks to be a repeat of the Thurs – Sunday pattern of this week. Northwest flows in our neck of the woods seem to lay down light accumulation but in a consistent day to day pattern. Its not the major storm but we’ll take the cold temps and those daily 1-2” of cold snow add up over a few days.
East of the Divide:
Sunday into Monday the dominant Northwest flow will continue to bring below average temperatures to the Eastern region with a few weak waves of energy keeping snow showers with lighter accumulations in the forecast. There will be a few sunny spells in between the snow showers but daytime temps look to be 10-15 degrees below norms, in the low to mid teens.
Monday night the same stronger Pacific storm system I eluded to on the West’s extended forecast will start to effect southwest areas of the region near Big Sky through Wednesday with consistent light snow. A ridge of high-pressure then starts to build on Wednesday night and looks to start warming things back to seasonal norms through the end of the week.
Announcements
Backcountry Reports:
West Central Montana Avalanche Center
Flathead Avalanche Center
http://www.flatheadavalanche.org
Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center:
Geography Key :
WEST of the Continental Divide
Montana Snowbowl, Discovery Basin, Lost Trail Powder Mountain, Lookout Pass, Whitefish Mountain Resort, Blacktail Mountain, Turner Mountain, Marias Pass/Glacier NP, Jewel Basin
EAST of the Continental Divide
Big Sky Resort, Bridger Bowl, Red Lodge, Maverick Mountain, Great Divide, Showdown, Teton Pass