BOZEMAN – Active weather pattern continues Sunday night through Wednesday. The next weather maker is a mature pacific storm with a warm front, cold front combination.
Just like the last mature pacific storm a wide variety of weather conditions will develop across Montana and there will travel concerns with moderate to heavy snow and strong wind gusts for mountain passes along the MT/ID state line, Rocky mountain front, and northcentral counties.
Greatest travel impacts will be over: Lookout, Lolo, Lost Trail passes on the MT/ID state line. All mountain passes on the Rocky mountain front, backcountry areas near Cooke City, and at times travel impacts between Big Sky and West Yellowstone down into Island Park, ID.
Surface winds will once again develop and in high wind prone areas near Livingston, Big Timber, and Harlowton wind gusts could reach 60+ mph over the next 3 days.
Currently there are no winter weather highlights up for SW Montana. However, there will be periods of snow and strong winds for most local mountain passes. Snow accumulations of 1”-3” is possible for mountain passes with very little to no accumulations for most valleys except West Yellowstone.
A warm front will push into the state Monday into Tuesday and produce areas of mountain snow and gusty winds with mild temperatures. A cold front will weaken before reaching Montana but will produce scattered snow and gusty winds Tuesday into Wednesday. Behind that cold front temperatures will turn colder and below normal by Thursday.
TRAVEL TROUBLE AREAS
The National Weather Service issued a Winter Weather Advisory for West Central Montana from 8 pm Sunday to 5 am Wednesday.
Mountains could see 8” – 15” of snow along with wind gusts 40+ mph. Lower valleys could see rain/snow mix and pockets of freezing rain along with gusty winds.
Lookout, Lolo, Lost Trail passes could see moderate to heavy with 1” accumulations per hour Monday afternoon and evening. This combined with gusty winds will produce areas of blowing snow and reduced visibility.
The National Weather Service has a Winter Weather Advisory up for central Montana counties from Noon Monday through 5 am Tuesday.
Snow accumulations: Mountains and passes, like King’s Hill Pass, could see 8” – 12” of snow. Valleys 1” -3” of snow is possible. All areas will see wind gusts at times around 40+ mph. Areas of blowing snow are possible with reduced visibility.
The National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Watch for the Livingston, Big Timber, Harlowton areas Sunday night through Tuesday morning. This watch will be upgraded soon to either a wind advisory or a high wind warning.
Peak wind gusts could reach or exceed 60 mph.
