Montana Daily Snow

Heads up, there may be fresher snow! Read the latest Montana Daily Snow

By Bob Ambrose, Forecaster Posted 11 months ago April 21, 2023

Stellar Closing Weekend Ahead

Summary

As of 4PM Friday afternoon, Big Sky has picked up between 10 – 14” over the last 48-hours and light snow continues to fall. Great Divide, reopening for the weekend has not reported, but will likely have several inches from this past week. The snotel at Blacktail Mtn discloses 2 – 3” from this past week. A dry mix of sun & clouds are in store Sat and Sun along with seasonal temps.

Short Term Forecast

**West of the Divide, Blacktail Mountain will be open for one final day this Saturday, April 22nd. 

**Big Sky Resort will close out the 22/23 season this Saturday and Sunday. Kudos to Great Divide as they will reopen Saturday, April 22nd for the weekend. GD hopes to operate weekends, snow dependent, for as long as they can go.

Below: The snow continues to fall at 5PM Friday afternoon at Big Sky. Convective snow showers will continue into Friday evening adding another few inches. By the way, Big Sky has picked up 22" since this past Tuesday morning. Cold temps through the week have also kept the snow quality winter like.

   
 
Saturday & Sunday: Instability in the middle atmosphere in the wake of a departing upper-level trough will keep convective snow showers at Big Sky through Friday evening with a 75% chance of adding another 1 – 3”. A brief ridge of high-pressure will push in from the west on Saturday and hang for most of the day on Sunday. Saturday will offer up a mix of sun and clouds at all three of the open ski areas/resort. Temps on Saturday continue to be cool with highs in the upper 20’s at 8900’ so the snow looks to stay winter like at Big Sky. GD and Blacktail will see upper mountain highs in the low 30’s Saturday. Light W/NW winds. Sunday, another day with a mix of sun and clouds at Great Divide and Big Sky, but about 10 degrees warmer with alpine highs at 8900’ around 38F, with 40F at 7100’ at Great Divide. Light W/SW winds Sunday. 

Below: High-resolution model for snowfall over the Treasure State through 6AM Saturday shows there is potential for even higher amounts (than 3") at Big Sky. 

Extended Forecast

A upper level trough moves out of BC Sunday night and moves through the Northern Rockies Monday and Tuesday. Best chances for accumulating snowfall look to be east of the Divide where the mountains of SW Montana could see 3 – 5” Monday night into Tuesday morning. Snow levels will rise to around 7500’ on Tuesday. A ridge of high-pressure is favored by 75% of the weather models to move in on Wednesday drying things out through the end the work week. Seasonal temps through Tuesday, rising to slightly above seasonal readings Wednesday – Friday. 

This will be my final forecast post of the 22/23 season. Thanks so much for reading!  I always appreciate meeting fellow pow seekers and OpenSnow readers on my various chases across the Treasure State. I will post a 22/23 season recap at some point next week. Stay tuned. 

Powder Out!  

Bob 

Announcements

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This means you can use OpenSnow to track the freeze/thaw cycle for corn snow and peak-bagging this spring, avoid lightning and wildfire smoke this summer, escape to the desert next fall, and find every powder day next winter.

Montana Ski Areas & Resorts / Geographical References   

WEST of the Divide: 

Whitefish Mountain Resort – CLOSED for the Season.  

Blacktail Mountain – FINAL DAY, Saturday, April 22nd

Turner Mountain – CLOSED for the Season

Lookout Pass (MT/ID) CLOSED

Montana Snowbowl –  CLOSED  

Discovery Basin – CLOSED for the Season.  

Lost Trail Powder Mountain – CLOSED for the Season.

EAST of the Divide:

Big Sky Resort – **OPEN daily / Closing April 23rd

Bridger Bowl – CLOSED for the Season.

Great Divide –**Weekends Only through April as long as the snow lasts!!!   

Showdown – CLOSED for the Season.

Teton Pass Ski Area – CLOSED for the Season.

Maverick Mountain – CLOSED for the Season  

 

Backcountry Avalanche Reports:

West Central Montana Avalanche Center

 Flathead Avalanche Center

Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center:

About Our Forecaster

Bob Ambrose

Forecaster

Ever since his early days as a ski racer on the icy slopes of New Hampshire’s White Mountains, Bob chased his dreams of deep powder west to Tahoe and finally Montana. A self-proclaimed 'weather junkie', his passion for maps, charts, and forecasts always lead him to the best snow in Montana.

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