Advisory Archive
Today is a day of thanks, and right this moment I’m thankful that it finally got cold and snowed. I know that’s pretty shallow, especially compared with family, health and life, but it’s a thanks nonetheless. The Bridger Range fared the best with seven inches of new snow. The northern Gallatin and Madison Ranges and mountains around Cooke City received 4-6 inches while the West Yellowstone area got 2-3 inches. Temperatures dropped into the low teens this morning with westerly winds blowing 20 mph with gusts to 40. Clear skies are expected through Friday as mountain temperatures reach into the high 30s and winds remain out of the west at 20-30 mph. Another system on Saturday night and Sunday should bring additional snow.
Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day with calm winds. Overnight, southerly winds increased to 20-40 mph and calmed a little this morning. A small disturbance may bring a dusting of snow tonight; otherwise, the next few days will have warm dry weather and relatively calm winds. Winds should increase Sunday ahead of an approaching cold front that will bring colder temperatures and more snow starting late Sunday.
The storm is tapering off this morning and will drop only an inch or two more. At 5 a.m. the snowfall amounts are approximately 16 inches in the Bridger Range, 8-12 inches in the mountains around Big Sky and Bozeman, and 6-8 inches outside West Yellowstone and Cooke City. Winds have been blowing 5-15 mph out of the southeast to southwest with temperatures dropping in the last 36 hours to the single digits. Tonight, temperatures will read near zero under clearing skies. The rest of the week looks chilly with the possibility of flurries Wednesday followed by high pressure.
Yesterday precipitation fell mostly in the mountains near Bozeman and Big Sky with an inch or two of snow above 8000 ft. Temperatures cooled overnight and were in the low 20s F this morning. Temperatures shouldn’t warm much today under partly cloudy skies. Saturday morning should be sunny with a short-lived ridge of high pressure. More rain and snow will come Saturday evening and Sunday mostly in the areas near Bozeman.
A weak ridge of high pressure is building over the region producing clear skies and calm conditions. Currently, mountain temperatures are ranging from the single digits to mid-teens and winds are blowing out of the WNW at 5-15 mph. Today, the ridge will begin to break down as another storm system approaches from the west. Temperatures will warm into the 20s today and winds will gradually increase blowing 15-25 out of the WNW. Snow showers should arrive around midnight and will remain over the area through tomorrow. Accumulations of 1-3 inches are possible by tomorrow afternoon. The storm will push east by Saturday night and Sunday looks to be a nicer day.
We just got our first taste of winter and I’m salivating for the full meal. Temperatures dropped into the 20s and snow fell throughout southwest Montana. The mountains around Cooke City picked up 12” of wet, dense snow (2” of SWE) while other areas got 2-4 inches. Lingering precipitation today with unsettled weather all week should keep winter sports on the brain.
Mark and Eric put up the Hyalite weather station on Flanders peak last Friday (video). Our Weather page has links to many of the stations; however, they are not all operational yet.
Keep the budding flames of winter alive by attending this Friday’s PowderBlast sponsored by MIG, Grizzly Outfitters and Mystery Ranch. It’s the Friend’s annual fundraiser held at 6:30 p.m. at the Emerson Cultural Center. $30 gets you food, beverages, music and awesome outdoor gear at our silent auction and raffle! Buy your tickers HERE (or at the Door) or check out our Facebook page for more information.
I looked at long range weather models and found that southwest Montana is predicted to have an average to slightly below average snowfall. The good news is that average sounds down right enjoyable after last year. More good news is that sometimes the long range models are wrong. Sure, they can be wrong in the drier-than-expected way, but being an optimist I prefer to think they’ll be wrong in the “holy cow, not another foot of new powder” way. You can look at the models here and form your own biased conclusions: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/long_range/seasonal.php?lead=4
Weather Stations:
The weather stations at Taylor Fork (video) and Lionhead in the southern Madison Range are both up and running. The station up Flanders Peak in Hyalite will be put up next, followed by the one at LuLu Pass outside Cooke City. The NRCS SNOTEL sites operate 24/7 and are a great spot to get a first look at where the snow is falling.
Early yesterday morning another inch fell around Big Sky before clouds lifted and high pressure moved in. Temperatures this morning are in the teens up north and single digits in the southern ranges. West to northwest winds have been blowing 35-50 mph in the Bridger Range and up Hyalite Canyon, but are 15-30 mph elsewhere. Today will be mostly sunny with mountain temperatures reaching the low twenties as westerly winds weaken to 15-25 mph. No new snow is expected for the next several days.
This morning the weather was clear, calm, cold and dry. Temperatures were near 20 degrees F and winds were blowing 5-15 mph from the W and SW with a few gusts of 25 mph. A ridge of high pressure is building over the area and will bring another beautiful day. Temperatures will rise in to the 40s F. Winds will blow 5-10 mph from the W with gusts of 20 mph.
