Weather
A change is on the way after a stretch of quiet weather in the Northern Rockies. Overall, mild high pressure will gradually give way to a stream of Pacific moisture by late week, delivering a series of storms that should bring significant mountain snowfall. Lower elevations will see fluctuating snow levels due to periods of warmer air surging in from the west, while colder air lurking to the north may move into parts of the region later in the weekend. Expect increasing winds at times, with possible gusty periods that could impact exposed slopes.
High pressure and valley inversions hold on through Thursday. Stubborn inversions will persist in many valleys, keeping temperatures there on the cooler side with limited mixing. Higher elevations remain relatively mild in comparison, and skies should stay mostly dry and calm. Some patchy fog or low clouds will linger in favored pockets each morning.
A more active pattern arrives Friday into Saturday. Moisture begins spilling in from the Pacific on Friday, bringing widespread snow to the mountains and an initial burst of lighter snow in many valleys. Snow levels could rise enough in some lower elevations to change precipitation over to rain or a rain/snow mix Friday afternoon, especially across western zones. By Saturday, a stronger system and cold front will likely reinforce mountain snowfall and introduce gusty winds region-wide. Some valleys may turn briefly warmer on Saturday before colder air arrives behind the front.
Colder air pushes in from the north late this weekend into early next week. On Sunday, an intrusion of colder air is expected to drop snow levels again, returning the risk for widespread snow showers into Monday. Mountains could pick up moderate to heavy additional accumulations, while valley floors see periods of light snow. Winds may remain brisk at higher elevations, occasionally affecting exposed ridgelines and upper bowls. Lingering moisture should keep scattered snow showers around into Tuesday and possibly Wednesday, though overall intensity may wane somewhat by midweek.
Looking farther ahead (6-10/8-14 Day Outlook), below-average temperatures with near or above-average precipitation trends are favored. After this series of storms moves through, guidance continues to suggest the Northern Rockies could remain somewhat unsettled. Additional systems may bring more snowfall opportunities well into the following week, and the region will likely stay on the cooler side of normal.
7-Day Resort Forecast Totals
- Brundage – 29″–50” Fri (01/31)–Wed night (02/05)
- Grand Targhee – 24″–41” Fri night (01/31)–Wed night (02/05)
- Jackson Hole – 22″–38” Fri night (01/31)–Wed night (02/05)
- Sun Valley – 19″–35” Fri (01/31)–Wed night (02/05)
- Bogus Basin – 13″–25” Fri (01/31)–Wed night (02/05)
- Schweitzer – 13″–24” Fri (01/31)–Tue night (02/04)
- Bridger Bowl – 6″–12” Sat night (02/01)–Wed night (02/05)
- Big Sky – 5″–11” Sat night (02/01)–Wed night (02/05)
- Whitefish Mountain – 5″–10” Fri (01/31)–Mon night (02/03)
