Winter Storm Warning 11, NWS Missoula, MT

459 
WWUS45 KMSO 161828
WSWMSO

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
1128 AM MST WED DEC 16 2015


MTZ001-161930-
/O.CAN.KMSO.WW.Y.0052.000000T0000Z-151216T1900Z/
1128 AM MST WED DEC 16 2015

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MISSOULA HAS CANCELLED THE WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY. 

LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE TO LINGER ACROSS NORTHWEST
MONTANA TODAY...BUT ROADS SHOULD STEADILY IMPROVE.

$$

MTZ003-170600-
/O.UPG.KMSO.WW.Y.0052.000000T0000Z-151216T1900Z/
/O.EXA.KMSO.WS.W.0011.000000T0000Z-151217T0600Z/
1128 AM MST WED DEC 16 2015

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM MST THIS EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MISSOULA HAS ISSUED A WINTER
STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM MST
THIS EVENING. THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* IMPACTS/TIMING: INTENSE SNOW SHOWERS WITH THE COMBINATION OF
  LAKE EFFECT WILL CAUSE PERIODS OF HEAVY SNOW ALONG THE EASTERN
  HALF OF FLATHEAD LAKE. HIGHWAY 35 WILL RECEIVE THE BIGGEST
  IMPACT FROM THE SNOW. VISIBILITY WILL BE REDUCED TO LESS THAN A
  QUARTER OF A MILE. 

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 1 TO 3 INCHES...EXCEPT LOCALLY 4 TO 6 INCHES
  ON THE EAST SHORE OF FLATHEAD LAKE.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...FLATHEAD LAKE...FLATHEAD VALLEY...
   MISSION VALLEY...POLSON

$$

IDZ005>007-170600-
/O.CON.KMSO.WS.W.0011.000000T0000Z-151217T0600Z/
1028 AM PST WED DEC 16 2015

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS
EVENING...

* IMPACTS/TIMING: MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW WITH GUSTY WINDS WILL 
  CAUSE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW THROUGH THIS MORNING. COLD 
  GROUND SURFACES WILL SUPPORT SNOW COVERED ROADS AND SLICK 
  DRIVING CONDITIONS THROUGH THIS EVENING. VISIBILITY WILL 
  OCCASIONALLY REDUCE TO ONE QUARTER MILE IN HEAVIER SNOW. 

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 2 TO 4 INCHES OVER THE CAMAS PRAIRIE AND 4 
  TO 8 INCHES REMAINDER OF THE AREA. 

* WINDS: WEST WINDS UP TO 30 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...ELK RIVER...HIGHWAY 11 PIERCE TO 
  HEADQUARTERS...PIERCE...DIXIE...ELK CITY...HIGHWAY 12 LOWELL 
  TO LOLO PASS...CAMAS PRAIRIE...GRANGEVILLE AND VICINITY...
  GREER GRADE

$$

MTZ002-170000-
/O.EXT.KMSO.WW.Y.0052.000000T0000Z-151217T0000Z/
1128 AM MST WED DEC 16 2015

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM MST THIS
AFTERNOON...

* IMPACTS/TIMING: SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAY... WITH THE 
  PEAK INTENSITY OCCURRING THIS MORNING. COLD GROUND SURFACES 
  WILL SUPPORT SNOW COVERED ROADS AND SLICK DRIVING CONDITIONS 
  THROUGH AT LEAST MID DAY. 

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 1 TO 3 INCHES...EXCEPT 4 TO 8 INCHES FOR GLACIER
  NATIONAL PARK AND THE SWAN VALLEY.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...BAD ROCK CANYON...ESSEX...HIGHWAY 
  83 BIGFORK TO SWAN LAKE...MARIAS PASS...POLEBRIDGE

$$

MTZ004-043-170000-
/O.EXT.KMSO.WW.Y.0052.000000T0000Z-151217T0000Z/
1128 AM MST WED DEC 16 2015

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM MST THIS
AFTERNOON...

* IMPACTS/TIMING: SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAY... WITH THE 
  PEAK INTENSITY OCCURRING THIS MORNING. COLD GROUND SURFACES 
  WILL SUPPORT SNOW COVERED ROADS AND SLICK DRIVING CONDITIONS 
  THROUGH AT LEAST MID AFTERNOON. 

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 2 TO 4 INCHES...EXCEPT LOCALLY UP TO 6 
  INCHES IN THE TERRAIN AND OVER MOUNTAIN PASSES. 

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...EVARO HILL...HIGHWAY 200 THOMPSON 
  FALLS TO PLAINS...HIGHWAY 200 TROUT CREEK TO HERON...I-90 
  LOOKOUT PASS TO HAUGAN...HIGHWAY 200 BONNER TO GREENOUGH...
  HIGHWAY 83 SEELEY LAKE TO CONDON...I-90 EAST MISSOULA TO 
  BEARMOUTH

$$

MTZ005>007-170600-
/O.CON.KMSO.WW.Y.0052.000000T0000Z-151217T0600Z/
1128 AM MST WED DEC 16 2015

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM MST THIS
EVENING...

* IMPACTS/TIMING: AREAS OF LIGHT TO MODERATE SNOW WILL OCCUR 
  THROUGH THE DAY. COLD GROUND SURFACES WILL SUPPORT SNOW 
  COVERED ROADS AND SLICK DRIVING CONDITIONS THROUGH THIS 
  EVENING. VISIBILITY WILL OCCASIONALLY REDUCE TO 1/2 MILE IN 
  HEAVIER SNOW. 

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 3 TO 4 INCHES IN THE VALLEYS AND 6 TO 8 
  INCHES IN THE TERRAIN AND OVER MOUNTAIN PASSES. 

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...BITTERROOT VALLEY...MISSOULA... 
  HIGHWAY 93 SULA TO LOST TRAIL PASS...LOLO PASS...BUTTE... 
  GEORGETOWN LAKE...HIGHWAY 12 GARRISON TO ELLISTON...HOMESTAKE 
  PASS...MACDONALD PASS

$$

IDZ008-170600-
/O.CON.KMSO.WW.Y.0052.000000T0000Z-151217T0600Z/
1028 AM PST WED DEC 16 2015

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS
EVENING...

* IMPACTS/TIMING: AREAS OF LIGHT TO MODERATE SNOW WILL OCCUR 
  THROUGH THE DAY. COLD GROUND SURFACES WILL SUPPORT SNOW 
  COVERED ROADS AND SLICK DRIVING CONDITIONS THROUGH THIS 
  EVENING. VISIBILITY WILL OCCASIONALLY REDUCE TO 1/2 MILE IN 
  HEAVIER SNOW. 

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 2 TO 6 INCHES.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...HIGHWAY 95 SLATE CREEK TO 
  RIGGINS...WHITE BIRD GRADE

$$

463 
WWUS45 KMSO 162128
WSWMSO

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
228 PM MST WED DEC 16 2015


IDZ005>007-MTZ003-162230-
/O.CAN.KMSO.WS.W.0011.000000T0000Z-151217T0600Z/
228 PM MST WED DEC 16 2015 /128 PM PST WED DEC 16 2015/

...WINTER STORM WARNING IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MISSOULA HAS CANCELLED THE WINTER
STORM WARNING. 

LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE HIGHER
TERRAIN...BUT SHOULD HAVE MINIMAL IMPACT TO AREA ROADWAYS.

$$

MTZ002-162230-
/O.CAN.KMSO.WW.Y.0052.000000T0000Z-151217T0000Z/
228 PM MST WED DEC 16 2015

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MISSOULA HAS CANCELLED THE WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY. 

SNOW SHOWERS HAVE MOVED OUT OF THE AREA AND INCREASED SUNLIGHT
WILL HELP WITH THE DRYING OF AREA ROADWAYS.

$$

IDZ008-162230-
/O.CAN.KMSO.WW.Y.0052.000000T0000Z-151217T0600Z/
128 PM PST WED DEC 16 2015

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MISSOULA HAS CANCELLED THE WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY. 

SNOW SHOWERS HAVE MOVED OUT OF THE AREA AND INCREASED SUNLIGHT
WILL HELP WITH THE DRYING OF AREA ROADWAYS. 

$$

MTZ004-043-170000-
/O.CON.KMSO.WW.Y.0052.000000T0000Z-151217T0000Z/
228 PM MST WED DEC 16 2015

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM MST THIS
AFTERNOON...

* IMPACTS/TIMING: SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. COLD
  GROUND SURFACES WILL SUPPORT SNOW COVERED ROADS AND SLICK
  DRIVING CONDITIONS THROUGH AT LEAST MID AFTERNOON.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 2 TO 4 INCHES...EXCEPT LOCALLY UP TO 6 
  INCHES IN THE TERRAIN AND OVER MOUNTAIN PASSES. 

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...EVARO HILL...HIGHWAY 200 THOMPSON 
  FALLS TO PLAINS...HIGHWAY 200 TROUT CREEK TO HERON...I-90 
  LOOKOUT PASS TO HAUGAN...HIGHWAY 200 BONNER TO GREENOUGH...
  HIGHWAY 83 SEELEY LAKE TO CONDON...I-90 EAST MISSOULA TO 
  BEARMOUTH

$$

MTZ005>007-170600-
/O.CON.KMSO.WW.Y.0052.000000T0000Z-151217T0600Z/
228 PM MST WED DEC 16 2015

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM MST THIS
EVENING...

* IMPACTS/TIMING: AREAS OF LIGHT TO MODERATE SNOW WILL OCCUR 
  THROUGH THE DAY. COLD GROUND SURFACES WILL SUPPORT SNOW 
  COVERED ROADS AND SLICK DRIVING CONDITIONS THROUGH THIS 
  EVENING. VISIBILITY WILL OCCASIONALLY REDUCE TO 1/2 MILE IN 
  HEAVIER SNOW. 

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 3 TO 4 INCHES IN THE VALLEYS AND 6 TO 8 
  INCHES IN THE TERRAIN AND OVER MOUNTAIN PASSES. 

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...BITTERROOT VALLEY...MISSOULA... 
  HIGHWAY 93 SULA TO LOST TRAIL PASS...LOLO PASS...BUTTE... 
  GEORGETOWN LAKE...HIGHWAY 12 GARRISON TO ELLISTON...HOMESTAKE 
  PASS...MACDONALD PASS

$$

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
332 AM MST WED DEC 16 2015

...Valley and mountain snow impacting travel today...
...Potential freezing rain Thursday night into Friday...

.DISCUSSION...Snow has been falling through the night across most
of northwest and west central Montana, as well as north central
Idaho. Bursts of heavier snow have brought early accumulations,
with snow expected to continue and intensify through the morning.
The heaviest snow is still expected to occur across west central
Montana between daybreak and mid-to-late morning, and will impact
travel for the morning commute. The I-90 corridor and the Missoula
and Bitterroot valleys are still on tap to see the most
enhancement and greatest snow production, with difficult travel
likely at times.

Snow will shift further south through the afternoon, impacting the
rest of central Idaho and southwest Montana, bringing additional
snowfall accumulations and travel impacts. Overall, widespread
amounts of 2 to 5 inches for valleys are likely, with greater
amounts over mountain passes. Lingering snow showers behind the
initial push of precip will occur through the day, so while the
most impactful snowfall has passed...another inch or two of snow
could occur through this evening.

It should be noted that there is also a chance for lake effect
snow to happen around Flathead Lake through Thursday. The current
pattern supports the potential for snow to occur, with local
accumulations potentially affecting communities in the immediate
vicinity of the lake.

A warm front will begin to impact north central Idaho by Thursday
afternoon with a gradually increase in light snowfall. Snow will
transition to rain Thursday evening for the valleys as warmer air
aloft moves overhead. Light freezing rain will be possible late
Thursday night for the lowest valleys, which may lead to localized
slippery road conditions.

Across western Montana, this same warm front will bring areas of
snow Thursday night. Warm air aloft will transition the snow to
rain for lower elevations on Friday morning. Remnant cold air in
the valleys may results in pockets of freezing rain from roughly
Superior to Hot Springs and Missoula to Hamilton, making the
Friday morning commute potentially difficult with very slick
roads. For the rest of northwest Montana and area mountain passes,
precipitation will remain primarily as snow.

A cold front will drop southward across the region Friday
afternoon through Saturday morning, resulting in light snow
accumulations in the valleys with several additional inches of
snow for mountain passes. An unstable atmosphere and a weak
passing disturbance will bring periods of snow showers Saturday,
but once again, accumulations will remain light.

An active westerly flow will result in occasional snowfall and
seasonably cold temperatures for the Northern Rockies all of next
week. Although forecast models agree on the active pattern, there
is considerable disagreement on the timing of significant weather
producing features. Disruptions to holiday travel are very
possible, so please stay tuned for the latest forecast updates.

&&

.AVIATION...Snow, moderate to heavy at times, has begun to impact
KGPI and KMSO this morning and will continue through the day. The
greatest threat to aviation will be dramatic reductions in
visibility due to bursts of heavier snowfall, particularly at KMSO
between 16/1200Z and 16/1800Z. Low ceilings will also become
problematic at times. After 16/1800Z, KBTM and KSMN will begin to
see their vsby/ceil drop as snow spreads further south, impacting
operations through this evening. Lingering snow will continue to
fall at all terminals through roughly 17/0400Z, with the chance
for patchy freezing fog and/or low stratus to develop thereafter.
Few impacts are expected from fog/stratus, as confidence in its
development is low at this time.

&&

.MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...Winter Weather Advisory until 11 PM MST this evening
     Bitterroot/Sapphire Mountains...Butte/Blackfoot Region...
     Missoula/Bitterroot Valleys.

     Winter Weather Advisory until 3 PM MST this afternoon Lower
     Clark Fork Region...Potomac/Seeley Lake Region.

     Winter Weather Advisory until noon MST today Flathead/Mission
     Valleys...Kootenai/Cabinet Region...West Glacier Region.

ID...Winter Weather Advisory until 10 PM PST this evening Lower Hells
     Canyon/Salmon River Region...Northern Clearwater
     Mountains...Orofino/Grangeville Region...Southern
     Clearwater Mountains.

&&

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
717 AM MST WED DEC 16 2015

...TIME...  ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
...DATE...  ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0600 AM     SNOW             9 ENE EUREKA            48.91N 114.86W
12/16/2015  M7.0 INCH        LINCOLN            MT   MESONET

            STAHL PEAK SNOTEL AT 6030 FT. REPORTED 2"
            PER HOUR FROM 1 AM TO 3 AM MST.

&&

NWS MISSOULA MT
IRIS SYSTEM

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
722 AM MST WED DEC 16 2015

...TIME...  ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
...DATE...  ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0700 AM     SNOW             5 N WHITEFISH           48.48N 114.36W
12/16/2015  M5.0 INCH        FLATHEAD           MT   PUBLIC

            WHITEFISH SKI RESORT SNOW REPORT. STILL
            SNOWING LIGHTLY.

&&

NWS MISSOULA MT
IRIS SYSTEM