Winter Weather Advisory 25, NWS Missoula, MT

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Missoula MT
411 AM MST Wed Feb 24 2021

.DISCUSSION...A plume of snow continues to move southward over
parts of north central Idaho and west central Montana this
morning. These areas could anticipate to receive another 1 to 2
inches of new snow by noon today. Several winter weather
advisories remain in affect due to the last night's snowfall and
its impact on this morning's commute. The shower activity will
diminish by this afternoon as a weak ridge of high pressure slides
over the area.

A cold front is still on track to push through the Northern
Rockies on Thursday. This front will bring gusty westerly winds
and widespread snow. Winds could gust up into the 30 mph range
during the passage of the front. Ahead of the front, southerly
winds are expected to develop over the Camas Prairie in
Grangeville Idaho by mid to late Thursday morning. The prairie
around Grangeville could experience gusts as high as 50 mph. The
snow associated with the front will be the start of an extended
period of precipitation for parts of the Northern Rockies. The
mountains along the Montana/Idaho border along with areas around
Glacier National Park could see snow falling from Thursday until
Sunday morning. The mountains appear to receive feet of new snow
during this time frame while the valleys appear to receive 1 to 4
inches of new snow accumulations.

The models are hinting at an arctic airmass that will glance along
the Continental Divide Friday night into Saturday. The current
thinking is that the bulk of the cold air will stay east of the
divide, but some cold air could make its way over Marias Pass and
filtrate into Columbia Falls.

The models diverge on the first part of next week, but the overall
pattern is expected to remain fairly active.

&&

.AVIATION...A plume of snow continues to move through portions of
north central Idaho and west central Montana this morning. The
areas under this plume will have reduced visibilities and lowered
ceilings through the morning hours with KBTM having the biggest
impact of the area terminals. The shower activity appears to
diminish by this afternoon.

&&

.MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MT...Winter Weather Advisory until 9 AM MST this morning
     Missoula/Bitterroot Valleys.

     Winter Weather Advisory until 9 AM MST this morning
     Bitterroot/Sapphire Mountains.

     Winter Weather Advisory until 9 AM MST this morning
     Potomac/Seeley Lake Region.

     Winter Weather Advisory until 9 AM MST this morning
     Butte/Blackfoot Region.

     Winter Weather Advisory until 9 AM MST this morning Lower Clark
     Fork Region.

ID...Winter Weather Advisory until 8 AM PST this morning Lower Hells
     Canyon/Salmon River Region.

     Winter Weather Advisory until 8 AM PST this morning
     Orofino/Grangeville Region.

     Winter Weather Advisory until 8 AM PST this morning Northern
     Clearwater Mountains...Southern Clearwater Mountains.

&&