Winter Storm Warning 1, NWS Missoula, MT

189 
WWUS45 KMSO 011741 AAA
WSWMSO

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE...UPDATED
National Weather Service Missoula MT
1041 AM MST Wed Jan 1 2020

IDZ010-011845-
/O.EXP.KMSO.WS.W.0001.000000T0000Z-200101T1800Z/
Eastern Lemhi County-
1041 AM MST Wed Jan 1 2020

...WINTER STORM WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 11 AM MST THIS MORNING...

Snow will continue at times through the day, but the greatest
impacts have lessened, thus allowing the Warning to expire. 

$$

MTZ001-011845-
/O.EXP.KMSO.WW.Y.0071.000000T0000Z-200101T1800Z/
Kootenai/Cabinet Region-
1041 AM MST Wed Jan 1 2020

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY WILL EXPIRE AT 11 AM MST THIS
MORNING...

Snow will continue at times through the day, but the greatest
impacts have lessened, thus allowing the Advisory to expire. 

$$

IDZ009-011845-
/O.EXP.KMSO.WW.Y.0071.000000T0000Z-200101T1800Z/
Western Lemhi County-
1041 AM MST Wed Jan 1 2020

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY WILL EXPIRE AT 11 AM MST THIS
MORNING...

Snow will continue at times through the day, but the greatest
impacts have lessened, thus allowing the Advisory to expire. 

$$

MTZ004-021200-
/O.CON.KMSO.WW.Y.0071.000000T0000Z-200102T1200Z/
Lower Clark Fork Region-
1041 AM MST Wed Jan 1 2020

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM MST
THURSDAY...

* WHAT...Snow. Light freezing rain possible. Total snow 
  accumulations of 2 to 5 inches in valley locations, and 12 to 
  18 inches for Lookout Pass and the higher terrain.

* WHERE...Evaro Hill, Highway 200 Thompson Falls to Plains, 
  Highway 200 Trout Creek to Heron, and I-90 Lookout Pass to 
  Haugan.

* WHEN...Until 5 AM MST Thursday.

* IMPACTS...Travel could be affected. Patchy blowing snow could 
  significantly reduce visibility.


&&

$$

IDZ005-021200-
/O.CON.KMSO.WW.Y.0071.000000T0000Z-200102T1200Z/
Northern Clearwater Mountains-
941 AM PST Wed Jan 1 2020

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM PST
THURSDAY...

* WHAT...Snow. Total snow accumulations of 5 to 10 inches for 
  the valleys, with locally higher amounts possible between 
  Pierce and Headquarters. Total snow accumulations of 1 to 2 
  feet in the higher terrain.

* WHERE...Elk River, Highway 11 Pierce to Headquarters, and 
  Pierce.

* WHEN...Until 4 AM PST Thursday.

* IMPACTS...Travel could be affected. Patchy blowing snow could
  significantly reduce visibility.

&&

$$

IDZ006-021200-
/O.CON.KMSO.WW.Y.0071.000000T0000Z-200102T1200Z/
Southern Clearwater Mountains-
941 AM PST Wed Jan 1 2020

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM PST
THURSDAY...

* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 4 to 8 inches
  in valleys and 1 to 2 feet of snow for the higher terrain,
  including Lolo Pass. Snow may mix with rain at times over Lolo
  Pass on Wednesday. Winds gusting as high as 35 mph.

* WHERE...Dixie, Elk City, and Highway 12 Lowell to Lolo Pass.

* WHEN...Until 4 AM PST Thursday.

* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. Areas of blowing 
  snow could significantly reduce visibility.


&&

$$

MTZ002-021200-
/O.CON.KMSO.WW.Y.0071.000000T0000Z-200102T1200Z/
West Glacier Region-
1041 AM MST Wed Jan 1 2020

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM MST
THURSDAY...

* WHAT...Snow. Light freezing rain possible. Total snow
  accumulations of 3 to 6 inches in valleys, and could mix with
  rain at times Wednesday. A total of 6 to 12 inches for Essex to
  Marias Pass on Highway 2. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph.

* WHERE...Bad Rock Canyon, Essex, Highway 83 Bigfork to Swan 
  Lake, Marias Pass, and Polebridge.

* WHEN...Until 5 AM MST Thursday.

* IMPACTS...Travel could be affected. Patchy blowing snow could 
  significantly reduce visibility.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Slow down and use caution while traveling. 

The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can
be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

&&

$$

MTZ006-021200-
/O.CON.KMSO.WW.Y.0071.000000T0000Z-200102T1200Z/
Bitterroot/Sapphire Mountains-
1041 AM MST Wed Jan 1 2020

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM MST
THURSDAY...

* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 12 to 16 
  inches for Lost Trail Pass and the Sapphire Mountains. Total 
  snow accumulations of 1 to 2 feet for the Bitterroot Mountains.

* WHERE...Bitterroot/Sapphire Mountains.

* WHEN...Until 5 AM MST Thursday.

* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. Areas of blowing 
  snow could significantly reduce visibility. Gusty winds could 
  bring down tree branches.


&&

$$

MTZ043-021200-
/O.CON.KMSO.WW.Y.0071.000000T0000Z-200102T1200Z/
Potomac/Seeley Lake Region-
1041 AM MST Wed Jan 1 2020

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM MST
THURSDAY...

* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 3 to 7 inches,
  mainly in higher terrain. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph.
  Valley snow will mix with rain at times Wednesday. 

* WHERE...Highway 200 Bonner to Greenough, Highway 83 Seeley 
  Lake to Condon, and I-90 East Missoula to Bearmouth.

* WHEN...Until 5 AM MST Thursday.

* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. Areas of blowing 
  snow could significantly reduce visibility. Gusty winds could 
  bring down tree branches.


&&

$$

MTZ007-021200-
/O.CON.KMSO.WW.Y.0071.000000T0000Z-200102T1200Z/
Butte/Blackfoot Region-
1041 AM MST Wed Jan 1 2020

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM MST
THURSDAY...

* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 4 to 8 inches
  for Garrison to MacDonald Pass and Georgetown Lake. Total
  snowfall accumulations of 1 to 3 inches for areas along I90 from
  Garrison to Butte, with snow mixing with rain at times Wednesday.
  Winds gusting as high as 35 mph.

* WHERE...Butte, Georgetown Lake, Highway 12 Garrison to 
  Elliston, Homestake Pass, and MacDonald Pass.

* WHEN...Until 5 AM MST Thursday.

* IMPACTS...Travel could be affected. Patchy blowing snow could 
  significantly reduce visibility.


&&

$$

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
220 PM MST Tue Dec 31 2019

...HEAVY MOUNTAIN SNOW AND MIXED VALLEY PRECIP THROUGH
WEDNESDAY...

.DISCUSSION...
Winter weather advisories remain in place over much of the
Northern Rockies through Thursday morning. We are holding off on
issuing warnings for now. Our reluctance is due to continued
uncertainty on precipitation type as valley high temperatures look
to approach 40 degrees today and lows only dip to the low 30s
Wednesday morning in the Bitterroot, Mission, and Lower Clark Fork
valleys. Do not get us wrong, the mountain passes and high
terrain above about 4500 feet will see a formidable and much
needed snow storm. Major impacts in the form of snowfall, however,
will be limited to these areas in the near term. Valley impacts
will include the potential for periods of freezing rain. A weak
cold front moves through on Wednesday night. Temperatures will
decrease slightly and snow levels will drop back down below 3500
feet. All of this said, mountain snow totals will be counted in
feet by Wednesday night as 1-2 feet accumulate in the higher
terrain of the Cabinet, Bitterroot, Mission, Flathead, and
Clearwater ranges. Lookout, Lost Trail, and Lolo Passes will pick
up about a foot.

The scenario on Thursday is shaping up to be one that is very
conducive to produce snow bands across the region. As we know with
banded snowfall, nailing down exact locations can be tricky as
they are prone to moving, but can produce moderate to heavy
snowfall in a short amount of time. This will be the case,
particularly across north central Idaho mountains into west
central Montana, where snow bands will have the best chance at
forming. Anywhere that bands form, expect highly changeable travel
conditions.

As we head into Friday, winds will begin to increase dramatically
in terrain 5000 feet and higher, lasting through Saturday morning
before dissipating later in the day. Valleys will see wind gusts
kicking up late Friday into early Saturday. As for precipitation
on Friday, valleys will begin as all snow, with a transition to a
mix of rain and snow in the afternoon and evening hours. It will
then change back over to snow overnight into Saturday. During the
day Saturday, snow bands will once again be likely under a highly
convective environment. Additional snow accumulations will be
possible across western Montana and north central Idaho (all
elevations).

Winds will finally dissipate Sunday, with only lingering light
snowfall expected in the mountains along the Continental Divide
and along the Idaho/Montana border. The weather will once again
become active as we head into the first half of next week.

&&

.AVIATION...
Precipitation, heavy at times, will affect all terminals for the
next 24 hours and beyond, especially KMSO and KGPI. Expect flight
rules to drop to IFR and below during periods of heavier precip.
Precipitation types have been a forecast challenge during this
event as temperatures linger around freezing. Bouts of freezing
rain are not out of the question, especially overnight at KGPI.
Expect terrain obscurations over the entire Northern Rockies
airspace.

&&

.MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...     Winter Weather Advisory until 5 AM MST Thursday Lower Clark Fork
     Region.

     Winter Weather Advisory until 6 PM MST this evening
     Flathead/Mission Valleys.

     Winter Weather Advisory until 5 AM MST Thursday West Glacier
     Region.

     Winter Weather Advisory until 11 AM MST Wednesday
     Kootenai/Cabinet Region.

     Winter Weather Advisory until 5 AM MST Thursday
     Bitterroot/Sapphire Mountains.

     Winter Weather Advisory from 6 PM this evening to 5 AM MST
     Thursday Potomac/Seeley Lake Region.

     Winter Weather Advisory from 6 PM this evening to 5 AM MST
     Thursday Butte/Blackfoot Region.

ID...     Winter Weather Advisory until 5 PM PST this afternoon
     Orofino/Grangeville Region.

     Winter Weather Advisory until 4 AM PST Thursday Southern
     Clearwater Mountains.

     Winter Weather Advisory until 4 AM PST Thursday Northern
     Clearwater Mountains.

&&

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
1037 PM MST TUE DEC 31 2019

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

1036 PM     SNOW             SALMON                  45.18N 113.89W
12/31/2019  M2.0 INCH        LEMHI              ID   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

AL

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
122 AM MST WED JAN 1 2020

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

0121 AM     SNOW             SALMON                  45.18N 113.90W
01/01/2020  M6.0 INCH        LEMHI              ID   PUBLIC

&&

AL