West of the Continental Divide:

Winter Weather Advisories are out for most of Western Montana Tuesday for mainly mountain snowfall in the 4 to 8 inch range above 6000’. Snow levels will be below base lodge elevations for this storm with 2 to 4 inches below 6000’. NW Montana and along the Idaho border will receive the higher amounts. Lookout Pass may get enough to try to open Friday but it’s nothing I would plan on.

A short lived ridge of high-pressure will move in for Wednesday and Thursday drying things out but will be cold enough for snowmaking at those few places that blow snow. By Thanksgiving evening the next system, a warm plume of moisture with sub-tropical origins will move into NW Montana and spread southward through the day on Friday. Snow levels are a major concern here as they rise through the day on Friday to around 5500’ at Whitefish and 6000’ at Lookout Pass and Snowbowl. Disco and Lost Trail should get all snow. It will not be a lot of snow unfortunately, but 4 very wet inches could fall above 6000’.     

East of the Continental Divide:

 A trough of low-pressure will move over the Divide Tuesday afternoon bringing with it doses of light snowfall that will continue into Wednesday morning. Current trajectory has Big Sky in a pretty good place to pick up storm totals of around 6 to 8 inches. Bridger Bowl, slightly less with up to 4 inches. Across the region, GD and Red Lodge will also have a chance for a few inches. Not much, but we’ll take it as the long term forecast is not too promising.

High-pressure builds in for very nice opening day weather at Big Sky with partly sunny skies and seasonal temps. Unfortunately, the firehose of sub-tropical moisture that will affect the mountains West of the Divide will not make it over the Divide. Look for mainly cloudy days with a few sporadic flurries over the high terrain with warmer temps Friday and Saturday.                                                                     

Below: Euro Weather Model Tuesday thru midnight Friday. Friday's storm for the West Side is still a bit questionable in nature. 

West of the Continental Divide:

Dreaded high-pressure returns on Sunday bringing sunny skies and above average temps through Tuesday with inversions likely setting up in the valleys. By the middle of next week, the ridge moves east and unsettled weather returns with a Pacific low pressure system moving into the Northern Rockies. Time for bonfires and Ullr sacrifices!

East of the Continental Divide:

High-pressure is expected to build through region into the middle of next week. Cold mornings and warmer than average afternoons will prevail. A Pacific trough of low pressure is favored to move into the region by later in the week returning unsettled weather to the forecast.  

Powder Out –

 Bob

OPENING DAYS - Montana Ski Areas & Resorts / Geographical References   

WEST of the Divide: 

Whitefish Mountain Resort – Closed / Opens Dec 7th

Blacktail Mountain – Welcome new owners (Mission Ridge WA.)! Closed – Opening TBA

Turner Mountain – Closed TBA

Lookout Pass (MT/ID)  - TBA Possible Opening Nov 26th , check www.skilookout.com

Montana Snowbowl – Closed – tent. Opening Dec 10th

Discovery Basin – Closed opening TBA  

Lost Trail Powder Mountain –Closed opening TBA    

EAST of the Divide:

Big Sky Resort – Opens Thanksgiving  

Bridger Bowl – Closed – Tent opening Dec 10th

Red Lodge Mountain – Opening Nov 26th

Great Divide – Opening Nov. 26th  

Showdown – Closed Tent. Opening Dec 10th

Teton Pass Ski Area –Closed Tent opening Dec 10th

Maverick Mountain – Closed TBA  

 

Backcountry Avalanche 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

NEW: Avalanche Forecasts

Many folks have requested this over the past year and we're excited to now show avalanche forecasts for regions across North America. 

You can use our map view to see a quick overview of the avalanche forecast conditions and you can also go back in time for the last 7 days to see how the avalanche conditions have changed by using the slider at the bottom of the map.

Also, we integrated the avalanche forecast into each mountain location page under a new tab called "Avalanche Forecast". 

The avalanche forecasts are freely available and are the foundation of any backcountry experience. Please check these forecasts each time you head out of controlled terrain! 

You can view the avalanche forecasts right now on our website and they will be live on our iPhone and Android apps very soon.