Montana Daily Snow
By Bob Ambrose, Forecaster Posted 6 years ago April 14, 2017
LIVE from Big Sky - Thursday Night Update - Cold Front anticipation....
Update
As of the 9pm radar and thermal readings update, the highly anticipated Pacific cold front was moving a bit slower than anticipated in approaching SW Montana. Current widespread rain showers are expected to transition to all snow showers after midnight (or maybe later) above 7000’. Several inches of wet snow in the 2-5” range are possible by first chair Friday. Winds will be out of the south-southwest around 15-20mph on Friday morning but temps will be decreasing into the low to mid 20’s by noon with the oncoming cold air mass. Thus, persistent snow showers will be prevalent across Lone Mountain into the early afternoon which could bring another few inches of colder snow on top of last night’s wetter variety. With these temperature extremes it could be a low visibility day in the alpine Friday morning but things will likely start clearing out a little in the mid afternoon.
Saturday’s pond skim could be chilly (but bikinis get more points of course). Friday’s cold front will be responsible for Saturday’s daytime temps in the 28-38 degree range with a few peeks of sun between intermittent clouds. Winds will be moderate but really just in the afternoon. The upper mountain should be skiing quite well after the past days fresh snow combined with Saturday’s cooler temps. Sunday looks to be mostly sunny with a few stray clouds with warming temps into the low 40’s across the mountain by early afternoon. Typical spring Easter Sunday in the Northern Rockies and very friendly to egg hunts at the base area. Southwest winds will be around the 15-20mph range and should keep the snow in the alpine reaches quite nice into the 1-2pm’ish time before things get gloppy. Rip it up!
Big Sky is truly a dedicated skier’s/rider’s mountain that offers European alpine terrain with amazing descents of every variety. Come on over to Big Sky to celebrate Montana’s epic 16/17 ski season!
Powder Out -
Bob
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