BOZEMAN – Traveling in the next 48 hours will bring impacts for a few select areas of Montana, Idaho, and Washington.
A strong pacific storm is lifting over a High-pressure ridge. This will funnel a long fetch of moisture through Washington, Oregon, northern Idaho and NW Montana.
Greatest travel impacts will be over Lookout Pass on I-90 with moderate to heavy snow Thursday evening into Friday morning. Snow is possible from Missoula to Spokane, WA at all levels. Between Missoula and Kalispell look for areas of snow and wind producing difficult travel on highway 93.
East of the divide strong downsloping winds will produce surface gusts over 60 mph along the Rocky mountain front and adjacent plains. In the Upper Yellowstone and Livingston area crosswinds on I-90 will be strong at times tonight through Saturday afternoon with gusts to or over 60 mph which could close I-90 and detour traffic through Livingston.
SW Montana will be good for traveling through the weekend with a slight chance for snow around West Yellowstone, gusty to strong winds in wind prone areas like: Whitehall, Three Forks, Ennis, and Townsend.
Temperatures should remain on the mild side and could reach the low to mid 40s through early next week.
HIGHLIGHTS
The National Weather Service has Winter Weather Advisory and Winter Storm Warnings up for West Central and NW Montana, along with Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho tonight through Friday morning.
Snow accumulations: 12”-16” over mountains and passes with 2”-5” for most valleys.
The National Weather Service has a High Wind Warning up for the Rocky mountain front tonight through midnight on Friday.
Sustained winds 25 to 35 mph with occasional gusts to or over 60 mph.
The National Weather Service issued a Wind Advisory for the Livingston area tonight through Saturday afternoon.
Crosswinds over I-90 will impact travel in the Livingston area. Sustained winds 35 to 45 mph and gusts up to or over 60 mph.
