BOZEMAN – Interesting weather pattern for the rest of the week and upcoming weekend. Area of greatest concern with potential for moderate to heavy snowfall will be along the Montana-Idaho state line from Monida Pass to West Yellowstone over to Cooke City.
A Pacific storm will continue to slowly dig down into California and produce moderate to heavy rain and mountain snow but some of this moisture will break away and drift into central and eastern Idaho and push up again the state line.
The National Weather Service has issued a WINTER STORM WARNING for the Island Park, ID area from 11 am Wednesday to 11 pm Friday.
Total snow accumulation of 6”-12” is likely with 1’-2’ of higher mountain snow possible at times. Wind gusts 25 to 35 mph will produce areas of blowing snow and reduced visibility.
The National Weather Service has issued a WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY for eastern Idaho from 11 pm Tuesday to 5 am Friday.
This includes I-15 from Monida Pass to Idaho Falls, ID.
Snow accumulations of 2”-7” is likely with 8”-12” possible around the Crater of the Moon area and 2”-4” around Idaho Falls, ID.
Gusty winds will also produce some blowing snow and lower visibility.
At this time there are no winter weather highlights up for SW Montana but I am expecting some either later today or by tomorrow morning for the West Yellowstone area and possibly for the Monida Pass area on the Montana side.
A few of our weather forecast models are pushing potential snow totals in the West Yellowstone area up to 8”-12” by Friday morning.
Looking back at the month of January, total snowfall through January 26th at the West Gate to YNP has only 12.5” of snow and that is rated #1 for the lowest snowfall for that location. That will change if the current forecast is verified by the weekend.
