Winter Storm Watch 3, NWS Missoula, MT

608 
WWUS45 KMSO 232105
WSWMSO

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
205 PM MST WED NOV 23 2016

...EXPECT WINTRY CONDITIONS ON BUSIEST TRAVEL DAY OF THE YEAR...

MTZ001-242115-
/O.UPG.KMSO.WS.A.0003.161124T1200Z-161125T1800Z/
/O.NEW.KMSO.WW.Y.0053.161125T0000Z-161125T1800Z/
205 PM MST WED NOV 23 2016

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM THURSDAY TO 11 AM
MST FRIDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MISSOULA HAS ISSUED A WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS WINTER WEATHER TRAVEL
CONDITIONS...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM THURSDAY TO 11 AM MST 
FRIDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

* IMPACTS/TIMING: SNOW WILL BEGIN TO COVER ROADWAYS NEAR YAAK LATE
  THURSDAY AFTERNOON. HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS, INCLUDING ICY
  ROADWAYS AND OCCASIONAL LOW VISIBILITY, WILL IMPACT COUNTY ROADS
  508 AND 567 NORTH OF TROY AND LIBBY THROUGH LATE FRIDAY MORNING.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 3 TO 5 INCHES.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE: LINCOLN COUNTY ROADS 508 TROY TO
  YAAK, AND 567 LIBBY TO YAAK.

$$

MTZ007-240600-
/O.CON.KMSO.WW.Y.0052.000000T0000Z-161124T0600Z/
205 PM MST WED NOV 23 2016

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

* IMPACTS/TIMING: EXPECT LOWER VISIBILITY DUE TO FALLING SNOW AND
  WIND. WITH COOLING TEMPERATURES, SNOW WILL STICK TO ROAD
  SURFACES, EVENTUALLY MELT, AND REFREEZE AFTER SUNSET.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 2 TO 4 INCHES FROM PHILIPSBURG SOUTH AND 
  EAST TO BUTTE. 1 TO 2 INCHES AT MACDONALD PASS AND LESS THAN 
  AN INCH ELSEWHERE. 

* WIND: GUSTY WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS BETWEEN 15 AND 25 MPH ARE 
  EXPECTED WITH THE FRONTAL PASSAGE. 

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE: BUTTE, GEORGETOWN LAKE, HIGHWAY 12 
  GARRISON TO ELLISTON, HOMESTAKE PASS, AND MACDONALD PASS

$$

IDZ005-006-008-240000-
/O.CON.KMSO.WW.Y.0052.000000T0000Z-161124T0000Z/
105 PM PST WED NOV 23 2016

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PST THIS
AFTERNOON ABOVE 3000 FEET...

* IMPACTS/TIMING: WITH COOLING TEMPERATURES, SNOW WILL STICK TO
  ROAD SURFACES, EVENTUALLY MELT, AND REFREEZE AFTER SUNSET.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 2 TO 5 INCHES POPULATED AREAS, 4 TO 8 
  INCHES IN THE MOUNTAINS. BETWEEN 1 TO 2 INCHES AT WHITE BIRD 
  GRADE. LESS THAN AN INCH AT GREER GRADE ON HIGHWAY 11. 

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE: HIGHWAY 11 PIERCE TO HEADQUARTERS, 
  PIERCE, DIXIE, ELK CITY, HIGHWAY 12 LOWELL TO LOLO PASS, AND 
  WHITE BIRD GRADE

$$

IDZ009-MTZ004-006-240600-
/O.CON.KMSO.WW.Y.0052.000000T0000Z-161124T0600Z/
205 PM MST WED NOV 23 2016

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM MST THIS
EVENING ABOVE 4000 FEET...

* IMPACTS/TIMING: ANTICIPATE SNOW CREATING SLICK CONDITIONS ON
  MOUNTAIN PASSES AND BACKCOUNTRY ROADS THROUGH THIS EVENING. 
EVEN VALLEY LOCATIONS WILL EXPERIENCE SLUSHY ROADS AT TIMES. 

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 2 TO 4 INCHES LOOKOUT, LOLO AND SKALKAHO 
  PASSES, 3 TO 6 INCHES AT LOST TRAIL PASS, WILLIAMS CREEK, AND 
  HIGHER ELEVATIONS. 1 TO 2 INCHES EVARO HILL. 

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE: EVARO HILL, HIGHWAY 93 SULA TO 
  LOST TRAIL PASS, AND LOLO PASS

$$

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
354 AM MST Tue Nov 22 2016

.DISCUSSION...A few snow showers this early morning are impacting
Lookout and Lolo pass with a light covering of snow. These snow
showers look to be relatively light and unorganized and should
taper off around mid morning. Expect up to an inch of snow to
accumulate on these mountain passes.

A ridge will quickly develop by noon and persist through Wednesday
morning. These stable conditions and low level moisture will be
conducive for fog development tonight through Wednesday morning
across western Montana and perhaps cause some difficult travel on
the day before Thanksgiving.

Wednesday afternoon through Thursday morning a robust weather
disturbance and cold front will move fairly quick through the
Northern Rockies. This system will bring accumulating snow to the
central Idaho mountains, the Bitterroot, Sapphire and
Butte/Pintlar mountains. In addition snow levels will be low
enough to impact the higher elevated valleys in southwest Montana,
aka Butte and Anaconda. Right now the biggest impact from snow
will be over Lookout, Lolo and Lost Trail Passes where 2-4 inches
of snow is looking more favorable. A few inches of snow is also
possible in the Butte and Anaconda areas impacting Highway 1 from
Philipsburg to Anaconda and I-90 from Deerlodge to Butte. Given
this will be a peak travel period the day before Thanksgiving even
a few inches of snow could be critical. Stay tuned as we hone in
on the specifics today.

A ridge will develop Thursday and last through Saturday morning
impacting the region with valley fog each night and morning.

By mid day Saturday the pattern will become a little more
progressive as the ridge over the region and to our east breaks
down and allows several weather disturbances to move through the
region. The flow will be predominately out of the northwest and
allow colder air into the region lowering snow levels to the
valley floors Sunday through next Tuesday. There is quite a bit of
uncertainty with any specifics on how cold or how much moisture
may move into the region but it does look like fog potential will
be pretty limited.

&&

.AVIATION...A few scattered showers are present across west
central Montana and northwest Montana this morning. Area terminals
KMSO and KGPI could see a few light showers capable of obscuring
the terrain and reducing visibility briefly. These showers will
be on the decrease this morning. For this afternoon, fair flying
conditions are expected with some light winds and broken clouds.
For tonight, some patchy fog is expected to develop across
northwest Montana and parts of west central Montana. The next
weather system is expected during the day Wednesday.

&&

.MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...None.
ID...None.
&&