Report From Powderchasers
Light snow and much colder temperatures will be over the northern Rockies late Sunday through Monday.
Montana will benefit from 1/2 inch or more of moisture in the north and higher amounts towards the Wyoming border. 2-4 inches of snowfall above 8,000 feet in central or southern regions is likely by early Monday morning. Models show the heaviest precipitation will fall in the southern regions of Montana along the Wyoming border. It is likely that you will be waking up Monday morning to a fresh coating of snow at many mountain tops. Higher amounts are possible near Big Sky or even Red Mountain Lodge (Upper elevations). Some moisture over Glacier National Park and cooler temperatures will help mitigate wildfires to some extent late this weekend. Warming will occur Tuesday-Friday in our extended forecast below.
The northern mountains of Wyoming will also benefit somewhat with lesser amounts further south. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort will see higher snow levels around 9,000 feet late Sunday night and Monday (Light snow at mountain tops). There may be higher amounts towards the northern end of Teton National Park versus Jackson.
TEMPS RAPIDLY FALLING SUNDAY/MONDAY- -2 C at 10K
MOISTURE FOCUSSING OVER MONTANA ESPECIALLY SOUTHERN ZONES NEAR THE WYOMING BORDER.
The extended outlook shows warming mid week with another cold front due for later next weekend. This does not look as cold as the short term event but could kick off some additional snow showers over the northern Rockies.
Fall is just around the corner! El Nino should favor southern areas of the regions this winter however its not a slam dunk on snowfall amounts. The law of averages is what we have to formulate these predictions. Stronger El Nino patterns could land significant snowfall to an isolated area of the southwest, while more neutral patterns open the door for a wider area to reap snowfall with perhaps lower seasonal averages. There have been too many exception years to put solid bank on the forecasts. If you chase Powder, you will score.
Powderchaser Steve