Multiple Rounds Of Snow On Tap For Montana | Up To A FOOT Of New Snow Wednesday Morning – Friday Morning

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Fresh snow at Bridger Bowl, MT earlier this month. Image: Bridger Bowl Facebook

The National Weather Service is calling for multiple rounds of snow for Montana within the next week. The biggest of which will be Wednesday morning – Friday morning, where up to a foot of snow cold fall in the mountains. It will be followed by another round Friday night – Saturday and yet another Sunday – Monday.

“This northwesterly flow will also favor a period of moderate to heavy snow accumulation          over the Bridger and Madison ranges, with initial guidance suggesting up to a foot of              new snow possible over the 48 hour period from Wednesday morning through Friday              morning. Precipitation tapers on Friday, but then another strong Pacific system arrives            Friday night into Saturday, with yet another system Sunday into Monday.”

– NOAA Great Falls, MT Today

The 6-10 day outlook calls for above average temperatures and above average precipitation in Montana.

7 day snowfall totals. Image: Tropical Tidbits
7 day precipitation totals. Image: NOAA

Snow levels are forecasted to hover between 5,000ft – 6,000ft, but they may drop below that as the weekend approaches.

Additional Info:

Mountain snow early this week. Image: NOAA Missoula, MT
Snowfall totals through 5:00pm on Tuesday. Image: Great Falls, MT

Montana: Up To 1 FOOT Of Snow Wednesday AM – Friday AM

* This northwesterly flow will also favor a period of 
  moderate to heavy snow accumulation over the Bridger 
  and Madison ranges, with initial guidance suggesting 
  up to a foot of new snow possible over the 48 hour 
  period from Wednesday morning through Friday morning.
- NOAA Great Falls, MT
A cold and possibly snowy Halloween in Montana. Image: NOAA Billings, MT

Montana Forecast Discussion:

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Great Falls MT
1215 PM MDT Mon Oct 29 2018

Surface pressure is rising across the region this morning as a
Pacific front advances west to east. Scattered showers are moving
away to the east. Expect partly sunny skies today, but with gusty
west winds and temperatures trending lower toward seasonal
averages. Areas of low clouds with mainly afternoon snow showers
will persist over the mountains due to orographic lifting. Similar
conditions continue on Tuesday under the unsettled northwest flow
aloft. Winds begin to strengthen early Wednesday as the next
Pacific weather system approaches the region.

A well defined upper level jet with increasing divergence aloft
will help spread rain and mountain snow up to and across the
Continental Divide on Wednesday evening. There remain some timing
differences with the onset of precipitation, as the GFS presently
depicts a slower solution than other models. However, overall
confidence remains high that rain and snow will impact Halloween
activities across Southwest Montana. Snow levels will be around
5000 to 6000 feet, with some snow accumulation possible on
Southwest mountain passes. This northwesterly flow will also favor
a period of moderate to heavy snow accumulation over the Bridger
and Madison ranges, with initial guidance suggesting up to a foot
of new snow possible over the 48 hour period from Wednesday morning
through Friday morning.

Precipitation tapers on Friday, but then another strong Pacific
system arrives Friday night into Saturday, with yet another system
Sunday into Monday. Lower elevation snow may be possible for some
areas with temperatures remaining near, or a few degrees cooler
than seasonal averages. Several inches of new snow for mountain
areas through next weekend will begin to establish a base for
winter snow accumulation.
6-10 day temperature outlook. Image: NOAA
6-10 day precipitation outlook. Image: NOAA
10/02/18 in Montana. Image: MDOT

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