Advisory Archive
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.
Heavy snow is falling this morning in Bozeman with 2-3 inches in most areas. Temperatures were in the high teens and low 20s F with ridgetop winds blowing 10-20 mph. Last night winds blew from the E but shifted to the NW and W this morning. Today temperatures should reach the upper 20s F and winds should remain the same. Snow will continue with an additional 3-5 inches falling near Cooke City and 5-7 inches in all other areas by tomorrow morning.
The existing ridge of high pressure that delivered sunny skies and nice weather will remain over southwest Montana through the early part of today. Currently, skies are mostly clear, mountain temperatures are in the mid to upper teens and winds are light out of the W-SW at 5-15 mph.
Today, mountain temperatures will rise into the low forties and winds will gradually increase out of the W-SW. We will begin to see increasing clouds and stronger winds later in the day as an approaching storm system moves into the area. This storm system will deliver scattered snow showers by late this afternoon, but will intensify this evening bringing 6-8 inches of new snow to the mountains by tomorrow morning.