Advisory Archive

At 8 am this morning 5 inches of new snow has already been recorded at the Yellowstone Club study plot located at 9,400 ft (Yellowstone Club).  Carrot Basin Snotel site (NRCS SNOTEL) to the south of the Club has picked up 3 inches while the mountains around West Yellowstone and Cooke City have picked up a trace to two inches.  The Bridger Range has only picked a trace, but that will change throughout the day.

Currently mountain temperatures are in the high twenties to low thirties and winds are blowing out of the W-SW at 10-20 mph.  Snow levels will continue to drop throughout the day as an approaching cold front pushes into our region from the west.  We can expect to see 2-5 inches of accumulation in the valleys by tomorrow morning with 10-12 inches falling above 8,000 ft.

Since yesterday morning the Bridger Range picked up 12+ inches of heavy, dense snow at 9,000 feet. All other SNOTEL sites are showing 3-6 inches. Mountain temperatures have cooled to 15 degrees with ridgetop winds on Flanders Mountain and Lulu Pass blowing out of the west to northwest at 20-30 mph. Showers today could bring a few more inches to the upper elevations as winds continue to blow in the 20s.

Yesterday, a ridge of high pressure produced a beautiful spring day with temperatures reaching close to 50 degrees under perfectly clear skies.  During this time winds were blowing out of the S-SW at 10-20 mph.  Over the past 12 hours this ridge has started to flatten under the influence of a powerful low pressure system now sitting off the coast of California.

Currently, skies are cloudy and mountain temperatures are in the mid to high twenties.  Winds are starting to pick up out of the S-SE and are now blowing at 15-25 mph.  Today, mountain temperatures will climb into the high thirties to mid forties F and winds will continue to blow out of the S-SE at 10-20 mph.  We will continue to see an unsettled weather pattern through the first half of this week with the possibility of heavy precipitation arriving Monday night into Tuesday.

Yesterday was dry, with temperatures dropping last night into the mid to low teens.  Winds have calmed to 15-25 mph out of the southwest and will drop even further this morning.  Today will be sunny with light winds and mountain temperatures reaching the high 40s.  Later this afternoon clouds will increase as Pacific moisture streams in from the southwest, but not drop any measurable precipitation.

Over the past 24 hours a powerful low pressure system has brought a few inches of new snow the northern ranges of our advisory area as well as Cook City, but most notably has delivered the strongest winds we have seen all season.  Yesterday, winds were blowing consistently at 25-50 mph out of the S-SW with gusts up to 96 mph being recorded at the Yellowstone Club.  These intense winds have gradually decreased overnight and are now blowing at 10-30 mph out of the S-SW. 

Currently, skies are mostly clear and mountain temperatures are in the single digits to low teens.  Today, temperatures will remain slightly below average with highs reaching into the low forties F and winds will remain steady out of the S-SW at 10-30 mph under mostly clear skies.

This morning temperatures were in the low 20s F with SW winds blowing 10-25 mph.  The ridge responsible for yesterday's sunny weather is flattening and an approaching cold front will bring increased winds later this morning and isolated snow showers.  Winds will increase to 20-40 mph, and high temperatures shouldn't climb above 32 degrees.  This cold front is moving fast and doesn't contain much moisture.  In some areas snowfall may be intense but short lived and only 1-3 inches of snow will fall by tomorrow morning.

Yesterday an additional 4-6 inches of snow fell near Bridger Bowl and Big Sky.  Most other areas received an additional 2-3 inches.  Overnight skies cleared and temperatures dropped to 10 degrees F this morning with W winds blowing 10-30 mph at all elevations.  An upper level ridge of high pressure will bring partly to mostly sunny skies today with high temperatures near 32 degrees F.  Winds will blow from the W at 10-20 mph.

Wet Snow Avalanche Danger

This morning's cold temperatures and some clouds today should limit significant warming and wet snow avalanche activity.  However, intense solar radiation this time of year can drastically change snow conditions in a matter of hours.  With new snow and sunshine, the wet snow avalanche danger will be MODERATE this afternoon primarily on S and W facing slopes.