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by Mitchel Coombs
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY is in effect from 6 PM Friday until Noon Saturday for the West Glacier Region, Lower Clark Fork Region, Bitterroot/Sapphire Mountains and Clearwater Mountains. Snow expected. Likelihood of minor impacts from snow is greater than 60-90 percent. Total snow accumulations up to 7-14 inches above 4,000 feet. Winds gusting as high as 35 mph. Below 4,000 feet, a trace to 1 inch of snow will be possible, especially on un-paved surfaces.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY is in effect from Midnight Friday night until Noon Saturday for the Madison River Valley, Northwest Beaverhead County, Beaverhead and Western Madison below 6,000ft, Ruby Mountains and Southern Beaverhead Mountains, Gallatin and Madison County Mountains and Centennial Mountains. This includes the following locations: Big Hole Pass, McAllister, Bannack, Dillon, Raynolds Pass, Targhee Pass, Waterloo, Norris, Chief Joseph Pass, Jeffers, Monida Pass, West Yellowstone, Wise River, Cameron, Wisdom, Big Sky, Ennis, Dewey, and Glen. Snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 2 and 4 inches. Winds gusting as high as 45 mph.
A trough of low pressure draped across the west will lead to convective snow and graupel showers this afternoon with gusty westerly winds 30-40 mph.
Valley areas may experience briefly reduced visibility and minor accumulations to grassy/dirt surfaces. Mountain passes along the state line will see accumulating snowfall with little break through the weekend.
A Pacific cold front arrives Friday afternoon and will produce heavy mountain snow through Saturday morning.
Snow levels will rise to 4,500 feet before dropping to valley floors overnight.
Valley locations may receive a quick half-inch of snow during this period, with wet roads freezing overnight as temperatures drop. The exception to this are valleys east of the divide where a few locations may receive over one inch of accumulation.
Snow showers will persist into Saturday under a northwesterly flow, focusing additional accumulations in the mountains.
By Sunday morning, Lookout, Lolo and Marias Passes could receive 10-18+ inches of snowfall.
Travel impacts are expected in these areas, and Winter Weather Advisories will be in effect from Friday evening through midday Saturday.
By Sunday, a shift to warmer weather begins. Snow levels will rise to 6,000 feet by Monday, and temperatures will reach the 60s across western Montana by midweek.
