West of the Continental Divide:

Another wave of moisture will affect mainly Central/NW areas like Whitefish, Snowbowl and Lookout Wednesday night with 2-4” likely by morning. Thursday snow showers will be around throughout the day especially along the I-90 corridor and north with 2-4” likely. Thursday’s high temps will be just above seasonal norms (30-35 @ 6000’) with moderate SW winds around 20mph.

East of the Continental Divide:  

The weather scenario has fluctuated day to day this week as an active NW flow has been bringing in little disturbances every 12-18 hours. Big Sky was under one of the heavier bands with 6” new as of Wednesday afternoon. Another small disturbance works its way into mainly SW Montana again tonight into Thursday with another 3-6” probable at Bridger and Big Sky. GD and Showdown to the north and Red Lodge to the east may see a skiff to an inch by Thursday afternoon. SW winds look to be light to moderate with warm daytime highs from 28-35 at 8000’ on Thursday.

West of the Continental Divide:

A warmer push of moisture arrives Friday that looks to last into Saturday with snow at or above 5000’ with 1-2” inches of wet snow possible for areas along the MT/ID border with a trace of slush elsewhere. Many base areas (except Lost Trail & Discovery) will see rain or a mix of on Friday and Saturday. Unsettled conditions look to last into Sunday with continued warm high temps in the mid to upper 30’s. The long-term from Monday through Wednesday promises more of the same with small disturbances moving through the westside of the Montana Rockies. 

East of the Continental Divide:

A high-pressure ridge moves back Friday but with a mix of clouds and flurries with sunny breaks as well with daytime highs around 32 at 8000’. For the weekend the high-pressure ridge will mostly dry things out but will have a few weak pulses overriding bringing mostly cloudy skies with flurries for Saturday and a few more flurries on Sunday. Daytime temps across the Eastside will continue to be well above seasonal averages throughout the weekend. The possible change back to slightly colder and snowier weather for early next week still looks plausible but again these look for be of the lighter variety.

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Montana Ski Areas & Resorts / Geographical References 

WEST of the Divide: 

Whitefish Mountain Resort –

Blacktail Mountain –

Turner Mountain – (now open Fri-Sun)  

Lookout Pass (MT/ID)  -

Montana Snowbowl – (limited terrain )   

Discovery Basin – (limited terrain)

Lost Trail Powder Mountain –

EAST of the Divide:

Big Sky Resort – 

Bridger Bowl – 

Red Lodge Mountain –

Great Divide –

Showdown –

Teton Pass Ski Area – (They’re BACK! 30$ lift tix too with great snowpack! )

Maverick Mountain –

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