Advisory Archive
The mountains are starting to turn white. 8 to 17” of wet, heavy snow fell this weekend at lower elevations in the mountains around Bozeman and Cooke City, totaling 1.7” to 2.8” of Snow Water Equivalent. At higher elevations, 1-2 feet of new snow likely fell. Less than 6” fell around Big Sky and West Yellowstone. Winds have been westerly at 15-25 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.
Light snow flurries will continue today and tomorrow without much accumulation (rain may fall at lower elevations). More substantial snowfall is expected starting Wednesday and continuing through the weekend.
Winter has been courteous and allowed a proper fall to take place in southwest Montana. The mountain tops recently got their first coat of white, and the weather pattern is starting to shift to cooler temperatures with a few inches of snow expected this weekend. For current weather data check our weather stations in Cooke City and Hyalite, as well as Bridger Bowl’s weather stations, and SNOTEL sites throughout our advisory area.
Spring weather can be highly variable and create a mix of avalanche problems to watch out for. Snow conditions and snow stability can change drastically from day to day or hour to hour. Anticipate rapid change and plan accordingly. Abundant snowfall over the winter with more spring snow to come makes avalanches possible into summer.
Over the weekend temperatures reached high 40s to 50s F with overnight lows in the mid to high 30s F. The mountains did not get any snow since Thursday night, and wind has been west-southwest at 5-15 mph with gusts to 30 mph. Today will be mostly cloudy with light showers, temperatures in the 40s F and thunderstorms this afternoon. Skies will clear the next couple days followed by scattered rain and snow showers through next weekend. Daytime temperatures will reach 50s to 60s F with overnight lows in the high 20s to mid-30s F.
Since yesterday morning, the mountains near Bozeman and Big Sky got 2-4” of dense new snow with rain at lower elevations. There was no significant precipitation around West Yellowstone or Cooke City. This morning temperatures are 20s to low 30s F. Winds are northwest at 15-30 mph. Snow (and low elevation rain) showers will continue today. Tomorrow will be mostly sunny with light snow and rain returning on Sunday. High temperatures today will be in the 30s and 40s F with temps reaching into the 40s and 50s over the weekend. Winds will be generally westerly at 15-30 mph.
Yesterday the mountains got a trace of snow with light rain at lower elevations. Over the weekend temperatures reached mid-40s F with lows in the 20s F. This morning temperatures are mid-20s to low 30s F with west-northwest wind at 15-30 mph. Today through Wednesday will be mostly sunny with temperatures reaching mid-40s to 50 F and overnight temperatures in the high 20s to low 30s F. Wind will be west-northwest at 10-20 mph. On Wednesday wind will increase to 20-30 mph with a chance for snow and rain Wednesday night through Thursday.
This week’s storm totaled 8-12” in the Bridger, Madison, and Gallatin Ranges and 2-3” in the mountains around West Yellowstone and Cooke City. Winds ranged 5-15 mph with gusts of 30 mph from the northwest before shifting to the east and now back to the west. High temperatures in the mountains were in the 20s F and near 30 F in the Bridger Range.
The weekend will start off with sunny skies and warm temperatures before clouds build late Saturday afternoon with 1-2” of snow possible by Sunday. High temperatures will be in the upper 30s to 40s F with moderate winds 15-25 mph from the west to southwest until late Saturday when they will calm to 5-15 mph for the remainder of the weekend.
Snowfall began mid-day yesterday with 6-8” accumulating by this morning in the Bridger Range and near Big Sky, 4” in the northern Gallatin Range, and 1-2” near West Yellowstone and Cooke City. Winds are 10-15 mph out of the west-northwest with gusts of 30 mph. Temperatures this morning are in the high teens and low 20s F. With a cold front pushing through today, temperatures will only rise a couple degrees this afternoon. Snow will continue today, with an additional 3-7” falling today near Bozeman and Big Sky, and 2-4” near West Yellowstone and Cooke City.
Moderate west winds today will shift to the northeast as the cold front passes through this afternoon and evening. Tomorrow will bring a mix of sun and clouds, but the snowfall will be mostly done. Sunny skies and warmer temperatures will prevail by Friday and through the weekend.
Over the weekend the Bridger Range got 9-12” of snow with 3-7” elsewhere. Wind was easterly at 15-35 mph Saturday night through Sunday morning, then shifted north-northwest at 5-20 mph. This morning temperatures are single digits above and below zero F. Today temperatures will reach teens to low 20s F under partly cloudy skies with very light snow showers.
Today will be the coldest of the week, but winter isn’t going anywhere soon. The next few days temperatures will reach mid-20s to low 30s F with overnight lows in the teens F. Wind will remain north-northwest at 10-35 mph. Heavy snow is possible Tuesday night through Wednesday with 10-18” in the mountains near Big Sky, Bozeman and Cooke City and 4-6” near West Yellowstone.
There is no new snow this morning. Temperatures are in the high 20s to low 40s with winds 5-15 mph out of the west. Today will start off mostly sunny. High temperatures will be in the high 30s and 40s F. Winds will be westerly at 10-20 mph. Clouds will move in this afternoon ahead of an approaching cold front. Some rain and snow showers are possible this afternoon before snowfall ramps up tonight and tomorrow.
This weekend will remind us that we live in Montana and winter isn’t through with us just yet. Low temps will drop down to the single digits F with highs in the 20s F. By Sunday, expect 6-12” of new snow in the northern ranges and around Cooke City, with 2-4” falling near West Yellowstone. The bulk of the snow will fall during the day on Saturday. Skies may clear again by Sunday afternoon. A warming trend will return next week.
