WEST of the Continental Divide:

Around 2” fell at the top half of Whitefish and Snowbowl on Tuesday with a skiff elsewhere. Clearing skies on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning will deliver mostly sunny skies with cold lows in the low 20’s with daytime highs in the upper 30’s. Clouds will increase Wednesday afternoon into Wednesday night when another cold front enters the region with snow showers that looks to bring 3-5” at Lost Trail and Discovery with mainly 1-3" at Lookout and Snowbowl by 1st chair Thursday. Areas north of I-90 will see just clouds and a stray snow shower. Snow continues on Thursday for areas south of I-90 with another 1-3" with high temps in the low to mid 30’s across the region. Friday will be a mix of clouds and sun with cooler temps sticking around with highs in the upper 30’s. Saturday and Sunday look to be mostly sunny, slightly warmer with high temps returning to around 40 before unsettled spring showery conditions return on Sunday night. Unsettled and cool temps look to last into early next week.

EAST of the Continental Divide:   

Tuesday night into Wednesday morning moisture from a fairly strong Pacific weather system starts moving into the SW areas of the Eastside with snow showers starting early Wednesday that look to get heavier through the day. Winter Storm Warnings (Red Lodge) and Winter Weather Advisories have been issued at most other areas starting Wednesday afternoon and lasting through Thursday night. Snow will start to really intensify Wednesday night into Thursday with 24-hour accumulations of 4-8” possible at Big Sky, Red Lodge and Bridger through last chair Thursday. Slightly less totals of 3-5” are expected at Great Divide and Showdown. High temps on Thursday will hover below freezing at 8000’ in the 26-30 range across the region. Snow continues Thursday night for the far SW areas with another 2-4” at Big Sky and 3-5” at Red Lodge. A few snow showers will hang around Friday morning with clearing skies through the day with continued cold temps with daytime highs ranging around 25-29 degrees at 8000’. High-pressure builds Saturday for mostly sunny skies through Sunday before the clouds and snow showers return Sunday night that will continue unsettled conditions into early next week.

Backcountry Reports:

 

West Central Montana Avalanche Center

http://missoulaavalanche.org 

 

Flathead Avalanche Center

 http://www.flatheadavalanche.org

 

Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center:

http://www.mtavalanche.com

 

 Montana Ski Areas/Resorts & Geographical References

 

WEST of the Divide: 

 

Discovery Basin – Open Daily.

 

Lookout Pass (MT/ID)  - Open 6 days a week/ closed Tuesdays

 

Whitefish Mountain Resort - Open Daily.

 

Lost Trail Powder Mountain – Open Thurs – Sun.

 

Montana Snowbowl – Open 6 days a week / closed Tuesdays

 

Blacktail Mountain – Open Weds- Sun.

 

Turner Mountain – Open Fri-Sun .

 

 

EAST of the Divide:

 

Big Sky Resort – Open Daily

 

Bridger Bowl - Open Daily

 

Red Lodge Mountain - Open Daily.

 

Great Divide - Open Weds - Sun.

 

Showdown – Open. Weds - Sun.

 

Maverick Mountain – Thurs - Sun.